Management system of substitute currency for gaming

ABSTRACT

A detection system including a control device detecting fraud performed in a game table by using a result of an image analysis performed by an image analyzing device is included. A substitute currency for gaming used for this detection system has a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked, a coloring layer is included at least in the middle, and white layers or thin-color layers (may be layers having a color thinner than that of the coloring layer; not illustrated in the drawing) are stacked on both sides of the coloring layer disposed in the middle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation from U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/557,429 filed Sep. 11, 2017, which is a 371 of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2016/072673 filed Aug. 2, 2016, which claimspriority to JP Pat. App. No. 2015-163213 filed Aug. 3, 2015; JP Pat.App. No. 2015-240631 filed Nov. 19, 2015; and JP Pat. App. No.2016-30443 filed Feb. 1, 2016; each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to substitute currency for gaming (gamingchips) in a game house, an inspection device, and a management systemfor table games, and more particularly, to a technology for detectingfraud.

BACKGROUND ART

In game houses such as casinos, there are various attempts forpreventing fraud. A game house includes monitoring cameras used formonitoring fraud and prevents fraud by determining fraud of a game,fraud according to collection or repayment of substitute currency forgaming that is different from the result of win/loose, and the likebased on an image acquired from the monitoring camera.

Meanwhile, in order to perceive the number or a total amount of betsubstitute currency for gaming, it has been proposed to perceive theamount of substitute currency for gaming by attaching a radio IC (RFID)tag to each substitute currency for gaming.

In a card game monitoring system disclosed in WO 2015/107902 A, it isdetermined whether or not substitute currency for gaming placed on agame table is collected or re-payed according to a result of win/looseby performing an image analysis of the movement of substitute currencyfor gaming, whereby fraud is monitored.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide new substitute currencyfor gaming, an inspection device, and a management system for tablegates that detects fraud in a game in a game house or a mistake or fraudwhen substitute currency for gaming is bet or is paid off.

Substitute currency for gaming according to an aspect of the presentinvention is substitute currency for gaming in which a stacked structurebody formed by a plurality of plastic layers is configured by stackingat least a coloring layer and a white layer or a thin-color layer, astripe pattern is formed on a side face in a stacking direction, aconfiguration enabling a type of substitute currency for gaming to bespecified by the coloring layer is included, a print layer representinga type of the substitute currency for gaming is applied to a furtherupper and lower faces of the stacked structure body, and a layerstructure is formed by thermo-compressing each interlayer.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, a side ID thatcan be individually identified may be attached to an outer face of thewhite layer or the thin-color layer.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, the side IDs maybe attached to at least three or more positions spaced apart in arotation direction of the side face of the substitute currency forgaming.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, the side ID maybe printed using ink that is not visible for visible light.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, the side ID maybe printed using ink absorbing infrared rays.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, the side ID maybe disposed in a plurality of rows on each of outer faces of two layersof the white layers or the thin-color layers.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, R processing maybe performed for outer angles of upper and lower faces of the printlayer.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, at least onelayer of the plurality of plastic layers may be a heavy layer containingmetal powder used for increasing the weight.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, the metal powderused for increasing the weight may be a metal oxide and may be one or aplurality of metal oxides, particularly, among a zinc oxide and atitanium oxide.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, white layers orthin-color layers may be disposed on both sides with the coloring layerinterposed therebetween, and thicknesses of upper and lower layers ofthe white layers or the thin-color layers having the coloring layerinterposed therebetween may be configured to be different from eachother.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, an RFID may betightly fixed between plastic layers each forming any one of thecoloring layer and the white layer or the thin-color layer.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, a face codeformed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays may bedisposed on the print layer.

In the substitute currency for gaming described above, a structure inwhich side IDs are attached to a side face, and an RFID is built may beformed, a face code formed using UV emission ink or ink absorbinginfrared rays is disposed on the print layer, and information of thesides ID attached to the side face and information of the RFID may beassociated with each other, the information of the side ID andinformation of the face code may be associated with each other, or theinformation of the side ID, the information of the RFID, and theinformation of the face code may be associated with each other.

An inspection device according to an aspect of the present invention isan inspection device inspecting the substitute currency for gaming andincludes: an RFID reading device that reads information of the RFID ofthe substitute currency for gaming; an ID reading device that reads theside ID disposed on the side face; and a control device. A relationbetween information of the side ID acquired by the ID reading device andinformation acquired by the RFID reading device is configured to beinspected.

An inspection device according to another aspect of the presentinvention is an inspection device inspecting the substitute currency forgaming and includes: a face code reading device that reads the face codeformed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays disposed onthe surface of the substitute currency for gaming; an ID reading devicethat reads the side ID disposed on the side face; and a control device.The control device is configured to inspect a relation betweeninformation of the side ID acquired by the ID reading device andinformation acquired by the face code reading device.

An inspection device according to further another aspect of the presentinvention is an inspection device inspecting the substitute currency forgaming and includes: a face code reading device that reads the face codeformed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays disposed onthe surface of the substitute currency for gaming; an ID reading devicethat reads the side ID disposed on the side face; an RFID reading devicethat reads information of the RFID of the substitute currency forgaming; and a control device. A relation among information of the sideID acquired by the ID reading device, information acquired by the facecode reading device, and information acquired by the RFID reading deviceis configured to be inspected.

In the inspection device described above, the side ID may be printedusing at least one or a combination of ink that is visible for visiblelight and ink absorbing infrared rays, and the ID reading device mayinclude one or a plurality of visible-light cameras or infrared-raycameras corresponding to the ink used for printing the side ID or acamera capable of performing switching among a plurality of functions ofa visible-light camera and an infrared-ray camera corresponding to theink.

In the inspection device described above, a determination device of atype of the substitute currency for gaming that images the side face ofthe substitute currency for gaming and determines a color of a stripepattern of the side face in a stacking direction or a print inspectingdevice that reads a print of a print layer arranged in the substitutecurrency for gaming may be further included, and a relation between thetype of the substitute currency for gaming and a print content of theprint layer may be inspected.

A method of manufacturing substitute currency for gaming according to anaspect of the present invention includes: forming a stacked structurebody formed by a plurality of plastic layers by stacking at least acoloring layer and a white layer or a thin-color layer; arranging aprint layer in which a drawing pattern is printed on at least an upperface or a lower face of the stacked structure body of the plurality ofplastic layers; generating a gaming substitute currency original plateby heating and welding the layers by performing thermo-pressing of thelayers of the stacked structure body and the print layer; and acquiringa plurality of substitute currencies for gaming having a predeterminedshape by performing punching processing of the gaming substitutecurrency original plate using a mold and performing R processing ofupper and lower angles of outer sides of the substitute currency forgaming using a mold at the time of performing the punching processing.

A method of manufacturing substitute currency for gaming according toanother aspect of the present invention includes: forming a stackedstructure body formed by a plurality of plastic layers by including acoloring layer at least in the middle and stacking a white layer or athin-color layer on upper and lower sides of the coloring layer disposedin the middle; using a layer containing metal powder or a metal oxideused for increasing the weight inside the layer as at least one layer ofthe plurality of plastic layers; arranging a print layer in which adrawing pattern is printed on at least an upper face or a lower face ofthe stacked structure body; generating a gaming substitute currencyoriginal plate by heating and welding the layers by performingthermo-pressing of the layers of the stacked structure body and theprint layer; and acquiring a plurality of substitute currencies forgaming having a predetermined shape by performing punching processing ofthe gaming substitute currency original plate using a mold.

In the method of manufacturing substitute currency for gaming describedabove, a side ID may be attached through inkjet printing.

In the method of manufacturing substitute currency for gaming describedabove, an RFID may be interposed between the layers of the stackedstructure body, and the layers having the RFID interposed therebetweenmay be heated and welded when the layers are thermos-compressed, and aperiphery of the RFID may be tightly fixed by the plastic layers.

In the method of manufacturing substitute currency for gaming describedabove, one or a plurality of face codes, security marks, opticalvariable devices (OVD) may be printed in the print layer.

A management system of a table game according to an aspect of thepresent invention includes: a card distributing device that determinesand displays a result of winning/losing of each game in a game table; acamera device that images and records substitute currency for gamingplaced on the game table by using a camera; a management control devicethat specifies and stores a position, types, and quantities of thesubstitute currency for gaming placed on the game table by a gameparticipant by using a result of the imaging performed by the cameradevice in each game. The substitute currency for gaming is formed as astructure body including a coloring layer and a white layer or athin-color layer at least in an outer appearance to form a stripepattern on a side face in an axial direction and has a configurationenabling the type of the substitute currency for gaming to be specifiedusing the coloring layer, and the management control device has acalculation function of calculating a balance of a casino side on thegame table for each game by using the result of winning/losing acquiredfrom the card distributing device and the result of the imaging of theposition, the types, and the quantities of the substitute currency forgaming placed by a game participant.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may have a function of determining the types and anamount of the substitute currency for gaming by using colors of coloringlayers by measuring the numbers of the coloring layers or white layersor thin-color layers of the substitute currency for gaming placed byeach game participant.

In the management system of a table game described above, while themanagement control device images the position, the types, and thequantities of the substitute currency for gaming placed by each gameparticipant in each game, it is performed when the card distributingdevice detects drawing of a first card, before and after the drawing, orafter recognition of a dealer's signal representing an end of betting inthe management control device.

A management system of a table game according to another aspect of thepresent invention includes: a gaming substitute currency tray that isdisposed on a game table and holds substitute currency for gaming foreach type; a camera device that images the substitute currency forgaming placed in the gaming substitute currency tray by using a camera;and a management control device that specifies and stores types andquantities of substitute currency for gaming disposed on the gamingsubstitute currency tray by using a result of the imaging performed bythe camera device. The substitute currency for gaming is formed as astructure body including a coloring layer and a white layer or athin-color layer at least in an outer appearance to form a stripepattern on a side face in an axial direction and has a configurationenabling the type of the substitute currency for gaming to be specifiedusing the coloring layer, and the management control device isconfigured to be able to measure a total amount of the substitutecurrency for gaming disposed on the gaming substitute currency tray byusing a result of the imaging of the types and the quantities of thesubstitute currency for gaming disposed on the gaming substitutecurrency tray.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may have a function of determining the types and anamount of the substitute currency for gaming by using colors of coloringlayers by measuring the numbers of the coloring layers or white layersor thin-color layers of substitute currency for gaming placed by eachgame participant.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may be configured to be able to determine a difference ofa real total amount of substitute currency for gaming after end of agame that is perceived in the gaming substitute currency tray of adealer of the game table that does not correspond to anincreased/decreased amount of substitute currency for gaming calculatedbased on an amount of substitute currency for gaming bet by all theplayers and a result of winning/losing of the game.

In the management system of a table game described above, theacquisition of the total amount of the substitute currency for gaming inthe gaming substitute currency tray through the management device aftera settlement at the time of end of a game may be performed at one of:

1) time when re-payment for winning substitute currency for gaming ends;

2) time when cards used in the game are collected and are disposed in adisposal area of the table;

3) time when a predetermined button accompanying a winning/losing resultdetermining device is pressed; and

4) time when a marker representing winning/losing is returned to theoriginal state.

In the management system of a table game described above, the cameradevice may also be able to image bills used for exchange of thesubstitute currency for gaming, and the management control device may beconfigured to specify types and quantities of substitute currency forgaming disposed on the gaming substitute currency tray to be decreasedaccording to exchange of the substitute currency for gaming disposed onthe gaming substitute currency tray and bills by using a result of theimaging of the bills and be able to perform a comparison/measurementwith a real total amount of the substitute currency for gaming disposedon the gaming substitute currency tray.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may determine through a comparison whether a total amountof substitute currency for gaming perceived in the gaming substitutecurrency tray of a dealer of a game table corresponds to anincrease/decrease according to a paid amount of substitute currency forgaming corresponding to exchanged bills after the exchange of the billsand substitute currency for gaming is performed and an increase/decreasein substitute currency for gaming calculated based on an amount ofsubstitute currency for gaming bet by all the players and a result ofwinning/losing of the game.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may have an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of acquiring information of types andquantities of substitute currency for gaming also in a state in which apart or one unit of the substitute currency for gaming is hidden due toa blind area of the camera when the types and the quantities of thesubstitute currency for gaming are measured and determined.

In the management system of a table game described above, a side ID maybe attached to the white layers or the thin-color layers of the sideface of the substitute currency for gaming at least at three or morepositions spaced apart in a rotation direction, types and manufacturinginformation of substitute currency for gaming may be able to bespecified by reading the side ID by using the ID reading device, and thespecified information specified through measurement may have aconfiguration that can be collated and managed with a predetermineddatabase.

In the management system of a table game described above, the side IDmay be printed using at least one of or both ink that is visible forvisible light and ink absorbing infrared rays, and the ID reading devicemay include one or a plurality of visible-light cameras or infrared-raycameras corresponding to the ink used for printing the side ID or acamera capable of performing switching among a plurality of functions ofa visible-light camera and an infrared-ray camera corresponding to theink.

In the management system of a table game described above, the cameradevice imaging and recording substitute currency for gaming disposed onthe game table may be configured to image the substitute currency forgaming by using one or a plurality of cameras having different heightsarranged at predetermined positions.

According to a system of the present invention, fraud in collecting andrepaying substitute currency for gaming according to a result ofwin/loose of a game can be detected.

In addition, according to a system of the present invention, even when acard is bent according to player's squeeze of the card that isfrequently performed in a Baccarat game or the like, the rank and thesuit of the card can be determined through an image analysis, and atotal amount of substitute currency for gaming that is in a blind areaor overlaps each other can be perceived together with the position. Inaddition, fraud at the time of exchange of bills and substitute currencyfor gaming can be detected as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole frauddetecting system in a game house including a plurality of gaming tablesaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of substitute currency for gamingillustrating an example of another overlapping state of substitutecurrency for gaming perceived according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of substitute currency for gamingillustrating an example of another overlapping state of substitutecurrency for gaming perceived according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagram of a mark illustrating contamination of acard perceived according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating the front side of a marker.

FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating the back side of a marker.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram simplifying a video of the state ofexchange of bills and substitute currency for gaming perceived accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an overview of the whole managementsystem for table games in a game house according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of conventional substitute currency forgaming.

FIG. 8 is a side-face cross-sectional view of substitute currency forgaming according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a side view of substitute currency for gaming according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a side view of substitute currency for gaming according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating another example of substitutecurrency for gaming according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating another example of substitutecurrency for gaming according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a state in which substitute currencyfor gaming is piled according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory photographic diagram illustrating astate in which different kinds of substitute currency for gaming arepiled.

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating details of a tray for substitutecurrency for gaming according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating another example of a tray forsubstitute currency for gaming according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating a relation between a tray forsubstitute currency for gaming having a two-stage structure and a cameradevice 2 and is a diagram illustrating a state in which two stages areoverlapped.

FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating a relation between a tray forsubstitute currency for gaming having a two-stage structure and a cameradevice 2 and is a diagram illustrating a state in which two stages areshifted from each other.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an inspection device inspectingsubstitute currency for gaming according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole managementsystem for substitute currency for gaming according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of substitute currency for gaming according tothe third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating substitute currency for gamingconfiguring a code (four kinds) using upper and lower marks C as a pair.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating substitute currency for gaming inwhich side IDs are printed using ink (ink absorbing infrared rays) thatis invisible for visible light.

FIG. 20A is a plan view of a main part of a tray for substitute currencyfor gaming illustrating a state in which substitute currency for gamingaccording to the third embodiment is held in a tray for substitutecurrency for gaming of a casino table.

FIG. 20B is a perspective view of a state in which substitute currencyfor gaming is piled.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating another example of substitute currencyfor gaming according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating another example of an inspectiondevice inspecting substitute currency for gaming.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating another example of an inspectiondevice inspecting substitute currency for gaming.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating another example of an inspectiondevice inspecting substitute currency for gaming.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In game houses such as casinos, while substitute currency for gaming ispiled to have a high volume and is placed on a game table, there is aproblem in that a total amount cannot be correctly read by a readingdevice for IC tags disposed under the game table, and, when thesensitivity of the reading device is increased, substitute currency orgaming placed at a different position (winning/losing depends on theposition) is added, and there is a problem in that a total amount ofsubstitute currency for gaming at each position cannot be perceived. Inaddition, in imaging using a camera, there is a problem in that a blindarea is generated according to the viewing angle of the camera, orsubstitute currency for gaming enters a shadow due to overlapping, andthus, there is a problem in that a total amount of substitute currencyfor gaming cannot be perceived.

In addition, according to player's squeeze (a behavior for seeing a cardlittle by little by bending a card facing the back side while enjoyingthe rank of the card or the like) of a card, which is frequentlyperformed in a Baccarat game, or the like, the card is bent, and thereis a problem in that the rank and the suit of the card cannot bedetermined through an analysis of an image acquired from a camera.

Furthermore, fraud on a game table has been advanced, and there is a newproblem in that fraud using an advanced betting method or the like thatcannot be found in simple detection of a large winning amount on a gametable or the like cannot be found by using a camera or tracking awinning amount. In addition, the prevention of fraud according to aconspiracy of a dealer and a player is not sufficient according to theconventional technology.

In order to solve the various problems described above, a frauddetecting system according to a first embodiment in a game houseincluding a plurality of game tables is a fraud detecting system in agame house including a plurality of game tables and includes: a gamerecording device that records a state of progress of a game performed oneach of the game table as a video including a dealer and a playerthrough a camera; an image analyzing device that performs an imageanalysis of the recorded video of the state of progress of the game; acard distributing device that determines and displays a result ofwinning/losing of each game in the game table; and a control device thatdetects fraud performed in the game table by using a result of the imageanalysis performed by the image analyzing device and the result ofwinning/losing determined by the card distributing device.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the card distributing devicehas a structure capable of reading the rank of each distributed card,and the control device has a structure capable of determiningmatch/mismatch by combining information of a rank acquired by the imageanalyzing device from a video of each card distributed in the game tableand information of a rank of a card read by the card distributingdevice.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the image analyzing deviceor the control device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of acquiring information of a rank of acard from a card that is distributed in the game table and is bent bythe player or is contaminated.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device acquiresthe position, the kind, and the quantity of substitute currency forgaming that is bet by each player through the image analyzing device anddetermines whether or not collection of losing substitute currency forgaming that is bet by each player and repayment for the winningsubstitute currency for gaming are appropriately performed according tothe result of winning/losing of the game by analyzing the video of thestate of progress of the game through the image analyzing device.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the image analyzing deviceor the control device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of acquiring information of the kind,the quantity, and the position of the bet substitute currency for gamingalso in a state in which a plurality of substitute currency for gamingplaced on a game table is in a state in which a part or the whole one ishidden according to a hidden area of the camera.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofcomparing/calculating whether or not the amount of substitute currencyfor gaming perceived in a dealer's tray for substitute currency forgaming in the game table is increased/decreased according to thecollection of losing substitute currency for gaming that is bet by eachplayer and a paid amount for winning substitute currency for gamingbased on a result of winning/losing of the game after the game ends anda settlement.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring the position and the amount of substitute currency for gamingthat is bet at each play position of the game table and extracting anabnormal situation by comparing a winning/losing history and an acquiredamount of substitute currency for gaming for each player that areacquired from a result of winning/losing of each game with statisticaldata of past game.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofextracting an abnormal situation by comparing a state in which theamount of the bet substitute currency for gaming at the time of losingis smaller than the amount of the bet substitute currency for gaming atthe time of losing at a play position of a game table with statisticaldata of past games.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has astructure capable of specifying whether the abnormal situation isextracted through the image analyzing device or an individual player ata play position at which winning of a predetermined amount of more isacquired.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has awarning function for giving a notification of the presence of a specificplayer at another game table when the specified player leaves the seatand arrives at the another game table.

In order to solve the various problems described above, according to thepresent invention, a fraud detecting system in a game house including aplurality of game tables includes: a game recording device that recordsa state of progress of a game performed on each of the game table as avideo including a dealer and a player through a camera; a carddistributing device that determines a result of winning/losing of eachgame in the game table; an image analyzing device that performs an imageanalysis of the recorded video of the state of processing of the game;and a control device that can detect bills and substitute currency forgaming in the game table by using a result of the image analysisperformed by the image analyzing device, and the image analyzing deviceor the control device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of detecting exchange of bills andsubstitute currency for gaming in the game table in a situation otherthan in the middle of dealing cards based on information acquired fromthe card distributing device or the dealer, recognizing a total amountof genuine bills verified using among the bills and capable ofrecognizing a total amount of substitute currency for gaming also in astate in which a plurality of substitute currency for gaming come outonto the game table as an exchange target is in a state in which a partor the whole one is hidden due to a blind area of the camera andcomparing a total amount of bills come out from the player onto the gametable and a total amount of substitute currency for gaming come out fromthe dealer with each other and determining whether or not the bothquantities match.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofcomparing/calculating whether or not the amount of substitute currencyfor gaming perceived in a dealer's tray for substitute currency forgaming in the game table is increased/decreased according to a payedamount of substitute currency for gaming corresponding to exchangedbills after a settlement through exchange of bills and substitutecurrency for gaming.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofcomparing/calculating match/mismatch of an input amount of billsaccording to a dealer's input and a total amount of bills according to aresult of the image analysis performed by the image analyzing deviceafter the settlement through exchange of bills and substitute currencyfor gaming. In addition, the control device has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofcomparing/calculating match/mismatch of a total input amount of billsaccording to a dealer's input in the game table for which the dealer isresponsible and a total amount of bills according to a result of theimage analysis performed by the image analyzing device.

According to a fraud detecting system according to this embodiment, alsowhen a card is bent according to player's squeeze of the card that isfrequently performed in a Baccarat game or the like, the rank and thesuit of the card can be determined through an image analysis, and atotal amount of substitute currency for gaming disposed in the blindarea or overlapping substitute currency for gaming can be perceivedtogether with the position. In addition, fraud at the time of exchangeof bills and substitute currency for gaming can be detected as well.

Hereinafter, an overview of the whole fraud detecting system in a gamehouse including a plurality of game tables according to a firstembodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole system, thefraud detecting system in a game house including a plurality of gametables 4 includes: a game recording device 11 that records the state ofprogress of a game performed in the game table 4 as a video includingplayers 6 and a dealer 5 through a plurality of camera devices 2; animage analyzing device 12 that performs an image analysis of therecorded video of the state of process of the game; and a carddistributing device 3 that determines and displays a result ofwinning/losing of each game in the game table 4. The card distributingdevice 3 is a so-called electronic shooter that has already been used bypersons skilled in the art and has rules of a game programmed in advanceand has a structure capable of determining winning/losing of a game byreading information of distributed cards C. For example, in a Baccaratgame, winning of the baker, winning of a player, or tie (drawn) isdetermined basically based on the ranks of two to three cards, and adetermination result (a result of winning/losing) is displayed in aresult display lamp 13.

The fraud detecting system further includes a control device 14 thatcompares the rank of actual cards according to a result of the imageanalysis performed by the image analyzing device 12 and a result ofwinning/losing determined by the card distributing device 3 with eachother and detects fraud (mismatch between a sum of ranks of distributedcards and a result of winning/losing) performed in the game table 4. Thecard distributing device 3 has a structure capable of reading Ranks (A,2 to 10, J, Q, K) and suits (hearts, spades, or the like) of cards Cthat are manually distributed by the dealer 5, and the control device 14has a structure capable of determining match/mismatch by collatinginformation of a rank and suites acquired by the image analyzing device12 (using artificial intelligence) from a video (captured by using thecamera device 2) of cards distributed in the game table 4 andinformation of cards and suits read by the card distributing device 3with each other. The image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14of the fraud detecting system have a structure integrally including acomputer formed as one body or by a plurality of configurations, aprogram, and a memory.

The image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 have anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring information of ranks of cards also for cards C that aredistributed in the game table 4 and are bent or contaminated by theplayer 6. For a contaminated card C, as illustrated in FIG. 3, there isa situation in which it is difficult to determine clubs or spades. Alsoin such a case, the suite can be determined by an artificialintelligence-utilizing computer or control system, an analysis and adetermination of an image using a deep learning (structure) technology.In addition, also in a case where a card is bent according to a player'ssqueeze of a card, which is frequently performed in a Baccarat game orthe like, by using self-learning of examples of many deformations ofimages or the like, a suit and a rank of a card before deformation canbe recognized according to an artificial intelligence-utilizing computeror control system and a deep learning (structure) technology. Theartificial intelligence-utilizing computer or control system and thedeep learning (structure) technology are known as a person skilled inthe art and can be used, and thus, detailed description thereof will notbe presented.

The control device 14 having an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep learning structure can perceive a position (a player, a banker, ora pair) inside a bet area 8 on which each player 6 bets substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, the type (a value of a different amount isassigned to substitute currency 120 for gaming for each color) of thebet substitute currency 120 for gaming through the camera device 2 andthe image analyzing device 12. Not only there is a case where thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming is vertically arranged to besuperimposed but also there is a case where the substitute currency forgaming is superimposed with deviations as illustrated in FIG. 2A. Insuch a case, in a case where the camera device 2 is positioned in thedirection of an arrow X illustrated in FIG. 2A (or the direction of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming is relatively in a blind area), asillustrated in FIG. 2B, it is assumed that the substitute currency 120for gaming is not visible (enters a blind area). According to theartificial intelligence-utilizing computer or control system or thedeep-learning technology, by using a self-learning function or the like,hidden substitute currency 120 for gaming due to a blind area or thelike is recognized (there are case where a part of one unit ofsubstitute currency for gaming is hidden or a case where the wholesubstitute currency for gaming is hidden), and the number of quantityand the like can be correctly perceived.

In this way, since a position (a player, a banker, or a pair) inside thebet area 8 on which the substitute currency 120 for gaming is bet andthe type (a value of a different amount is assigned to substitutecurrency 120 for gaming for each color) and the quantity of the betsubstitute currency 120 for gaming can be perceived, the control device14 determines whether or not collection (denoted by an arrow L) of thelosing substitute currency for gaming bet by each player 6 and payment(120W) for winning substitute currency for gaming to a player 6W who haswon are properly performed according to a result of winning/losing of agame in accordance with a result of winning/losing of the gamedetermined by the card distributing device 3 in each game by analyzing avideo of the state of process of the game through the image analyzingdevice 12. In a case where a determination result acquired through ananalysis using the image analyzing device 12 is different from a result(for example, a result of reading using an RFID) of reading using theother means, the intelligent-type control device 14 stores the analysisimage and can verify the result later. As a result of the verification,in the case of an error in the intelligent-type control device 14, byusing the analysis image as sample data of teacher leaning in thedeep-learning technology, the accuracy of the intelligent-type controldevice 14 can be improved.

The control device 14 can analyze and acquire a total amount of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming in the tray 17 for substitutecurrency for gaming for the dealer 5 in the game table 4 by using theimage analyzing device 12 and can compare and calculate whether or not atotal amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming inside the tray17 for the substitute currency 120 for gaming has been increased ordecreased according to the amount of collection of the losing substitutecurrency 120 for gaming bet by each player 6 and the amount of thepayment 120W for winning substitute currency for gaming to a player 6Wwho has won after the end of the game and the settlement based on aresult of winning/losing of the game. A total amount of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming in the tray 17 for substitute currency 120 forgaming may be constantly acquired using means such as an RFID, and thecontrol device 14 determines whether or not the increased/decreasedamount is correct by analyzing the video of the state of progress of thegame through the image analyzing device 12.

For this, the artificial intelligence-type or deep-leaning structure isalso used.

In this example, since fraud or a mistake is detected based on a resultof winning/losing of a game, information of the type of bet substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, the position (a player, a banker, or a pair)inside the bet area 8 on which the substitute currency 120 for gaming isbet, and the quantity of the substitute currency 120 for gaming, and anincreased/decreased amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming inthe tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming after the end of thecollection of losing substitute currency for gaming and the repaymentfor the won substitute currency 120 for gaming without acquiring themovement of the substitute currency 120 for gaming after the end of thegame, that is, whether the bet substitute currency 120 for gaming hasbeen moved to the player side or the dealer side.

For example, in the case of Baccarat, a result of winning/losing of agame can be determined based on rules of Baccarat by reading ranks ofcards C delivered in that game by the card distributing device 3. Inaddition, a result of winning/losing of a game can be determined also byimaging an area on the game table 4 by using the camera device 2,analyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12, and collating aresult of the analysis with the rules of the game by using the controldevice 14. In such a case, a winning/losing result determining device isconfigured by the camera device 2, the image analyzing device 12, andthe control device 14. The information of a player of each play position7, the type of bet substitute currency 120 for gaming, the position (aplayer, a banker, or a pair) inside the bet area 8 on which thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming is bet, and the quantity of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming is acquired by imaging the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming placed on the bet area 8 by using the cameradevice 2 and analyzing the image for each play position 7 by using theimage analyzing device 12.

In addition, an increased/decreased amount of substitute currency 120for gaming in the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming before andafter the collection of losing substitute currency 120 for gaming andthe repayment for winning substitute currency 120 for gaming can becalculated by comparing a total amount of the substitute currency 120for gaming disposed inside the tray 17 for substitute currency forgaming before the collection of losing substitute currency 120 forgaming and the repayment for won substitute currency 120 for gaming witha total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming disposed insidethe tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming after the collection oflosing substitute currency 120 for gaming and the repayment for wonsubstitute currency 120 for gaming.

The total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming disposedinside the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming before thecollection of losing substitute currency 120 for gaming and therepayment for won substitute currency 120 for gaming and the totalamount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming disposed inside thetray 17 for substitute currency for gaming after the collection oflosing substitute currency 120 for gaming and the repayment for wonsubstitute currency 120 for gaming can be detected by imaging the tray17 for substitute currency for gaming housing the substitute currency120 for gaming using the camera device 2 and analyzing the image usingthe image analyzing device 12. In addition, by embedding an RFIDrepresenting the amount inside substitute currency 120 for gaming andarranging an RFID reader in the tray 17 for substitute currency forgaming, a total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming housedin the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming may be configured tobe detected.

For example, it is assumed that the total amount of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming disposed on the tray 17 for substitute currencyfor gaming before the start of a game is Bb, and the total amount of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming disposed on the tray 17 forsubstitute currency for gaming after the game ends, and the collectionof losing substitute currency 120 for gaming and the re-payment forwinning substitute currency 120 for gaming is Ba. In addition, in thisgame, a total amount of all the play positions 7 of substitute currency120 for gaming that is bet on the player area is bp, a total amount ofall the play positions 7 of substitute currency 120 for gaming that isbet on the banker area is bb, and a total amount of all the playpositions 7 of substitute currency 120 for gaming that is bet on a tiearea is bt. For example, in a case where a result of winning/losing of agame is the winning of the banker, Ba−Bb=bp−bb+bt needs to be satisfied.Alternatively, the total amount Ba of the substitute currency 120 forgaming of the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming after the endof the game needs to be (Bb+bp−bb+bt). Otherwise, it can be determinedthat there is fraud or a mistake in the collection or repayment of thesubstitute currency for gaming.

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating details of a tray for substitutecurrency for gaming according to this embodiment, and FIG. 13B is adiagram illustrating another example of a tray for substitute currencyfor gaming. In the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming, acollection tray 171 for substitute currency for gaming that is used forcollecting and temporarily storing substitute currency 120L for gamingthat is bet by a losing player 6L and a repayment tray 172 forsubstitute currency 120W for gaming that is used for storing substitutecurrency 120L for gaming to be re-payed are arranged. The imageanalyzing device 12 and the control device 14 acquire the position, thetype, and the quantity of substitute currency 120L for gaming that isbet by the losing player 6L and calculates an increased amount (anamount of substitute currency 120 for gaming to be present in thecollection tray 171 for substitute currency for gaming) of substitutecurrency OL for gaming in the game. In addition, the image analyzingdevice 12 and the control device 14 acquires a real total amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming in the tray 171 for substitutecurrency for gaming after the collection and compare a total amount withthe real total amount to determine whether or not there is a differencetherebetween.

In addition, for the repayment of substitute currency 120W for gamingfor a winning player 6W, by using substitute currency 120 for gamingthat is present in the repayment tray 172 for substitute currency forgaming, a sufficient time can be secured for the image analyzing device12 and the control device 14 to acquire a real total amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming in the collection tray 171 forsubstitute currency for gaming after collection.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the game table 4 includes a disposal area 41and/or a disposal slot 42 used for disposing cards C used in a game.When a game ends, the cards C used in the game are collected and are putinto the disposal area 41 or the disposal slot 42 on the game table 4.

The game table 4 further includes a marker 43 representingwinning/losing of a game.

FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating the front side of a marker, and FIG.4B is a plan view illustrating the back side of a marker. In a Baccaratgame, two types of a marker 43 a representing the winning of the playerand a marker 43 b representing the winning of the banker are used, and,when a result of a game comes out, the dealer 5 overturns the marker ofthe winning side out of the player or the banker. In this way,winning/losing of a game is represented on the table to be easilyunderstood. The overturned marker is returned to the original state bythe dealer 5 after the collection and the repayment of substitutecurrency 120 for gaming. By returning the marker to the original state,it also represents a state in which a next game can be started.

As above, in this embodiment, the control device 14 calculates theamount of bet substitute currency for gaming on the game table 4 and abalance of substitute currency for gaming from a result ofwinning/losing of a game for each game and verifies an increased amountof the balance of substitute currency for gaming inside the tray 17 forsubstitute currency for gaming after the game. When a difference isdetected in this verification, the control device 14 generates an alarmor adds recording of an indication thereof in the recording of a videocaptured by the camera device 2. A casino operator can peruse the reasonfor the difference by checking the video.

The fraud detecting system according to this embodiment adds/subtractsan increased/decreased amount of substitute currency for gaming in agame calculated based on the positions, the types, and the quantities ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming that is bet by all the players 6 inthe game and a result of winning/losing of the game acquired by thewinning/losing result determining device to/from a total amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming in the tray 17 for substitutecurrency for gaming before a settlement of each game, compares a totalamount of substitute currency 120 for gaming to be present in the tray17 for substitute currency for gaming after the settlement at the timeof the end of the game with a real total amount of substitute currency120 for gaming in the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming at thetime of end of the game that is acquired through the image analyzingdevice 12, and determines whether or not there is a difference between atotal amount and a real total amount.

The control device 14 acquires the position, the type, and the quantityof substitute currency for gaming that is bet by each player through theimage analyzing device 12, acquires a real total amount of substitutecurrency for gaming placed in the tray for substitute currency forgaming when all the collections of losing substitute currency for gamingbet by each player end, compares a total amount of substitute currency120 for gaming to be present in the tray 17 for substitute currency forgaming, which is acquired by adding an increased amount in the tray 17for substitute currency for gaming in the game based on the positions,the types, and the quantities of substitute currency for gaming bet bylosing players to a total amount of substitute currency for gamingplaced in the tray for substitute currency for gaming before asettlement of each game, with a real total amount of substitute currency120 for gaming placed in the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming,and determines whether or not there is a difference between the totalamount and the real total amount.

In a case where the control device 14 compares a total amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming to be present in the tray 17 forsubstitute currency for gaming, which is acquired by adding an increasedamount in the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming in the gamebased on the positions, the types, and the quantities of substitutecurrency 120 for gaming bet by losing players to a total amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming placed in the tray 17 for substitutecurrency for gaming before a settlement of each game, with a real totalamount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming placed in the tray 17for substitute currency for gaming, and determines that there is nodifference between the total amount and the real total amount, andcompares a total amount to be present in the tray 17 for substitutecurrency for gaming after the settlement at the time of end of the gamewith a real total amount of substitute currency 120 for gaming placed inthe tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming at the time of end of thegame acquired through the image analyzing device 12, and determines thatthere is a difference between the total amount and the real totalamount, the control device 14 determines a mistake in the payment andgenerates a payment error signal used for giving a notification of themistake in the payment.

In the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming, the collection tray171 for substitute currency for gaming that collects and temporarilystores substitute currency 120 for gaming bet by losing players isarranged, and the image analyzing device 12 compares a total amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming to be present in the collection tray171 for substitute currency for gaming, which is acquired by adding anincreased amount of substitute currency 120 for gaming in the game thatis calculated based on the positions, the types, and the quantities ofthe substitute currency 120L for gaming bet by losing players, with areal total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming placed inthe tray 171 for substitute currency for gaming, and determines whetheror not there is a difference between the total amount and the real totalamount.

When the control device 14 determines a difference in the real totalamount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming acquired from the tray17 for substitute currency for gaming for the dealer 5 of the game table4 not corresponding to the increased/decreased amount of the substitutecurrency for gaming calculated based on the amount of substitutecurrency for gaming bet by all the players and a result ofwinning/losing of the game, the game recording device 11 assigns anindex or time to the acquired video or can reproduced with a collectionscene or a payment scene of the substitute currency 120 for gamingspecified such that the recording of the game in which the differenceoccurs can be analyzed by the game recording device 11.

In this way, the control device 14 acquires a total amount of substitutecurrency for gaming (chips) placed in the tray 17 for substitutecurrency for gaming after a settlement at the time of end of a gamethrough the image analyzing device 12. In this case, the determinationof “after the settlement” is when one of 1) to 4) described belowoccurs:

1) when repayment for won substitute currency 120 for gaming (won chips)ends

2) when cards C used in the game are collected and are disposed in thedisposal area or the disposal slot of the table

3) when a predetermined button accompanying the winning/losing resultdetermining device is pressed

4) when the marker 43 representing winning/losing is returned to theoriginal state

In the management system of the table game, the management controldevice images the positions, the types, and the quantities of substitutecurrency for gaming that is placed by game participants in each gamewhen any one of 1) to 3) described below is detected:

1) when the card distributing device detects that a first card is drawn

2) before and after drawing

3) after the management control device recognizes a dealer's bet endsign

In addition, the control device 14 has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of acquiringthe position (a position for betting on the player, the banker, or thefair) and the amount (the types and quantities) of bet substitutecurrency for gaming at each player position 7 of the game table 4,comparing a winning/losing history of each player 6 and the amount (wonamount) of acquired substitute currency for gaming that can be acquiredbased on the result of winning/losing of each game with statistical dataof many (big data) games in the past, and extracting an abnormalsituation (set in the casino).

Typically, the control device 14 is included which has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of extractingan occurrence of a won amount of a certain amount (one million dollars)or more and an abnormal situation in which, in a play position 7 of aspecific game table 4, a state in which the amount of bet substitutecurrency for gaming is small at the time of losing a game, and theamount of bet substitute currency for gaming is large at the time ofwinning a game is continued for several games and is determined as anabnormal situation based on a comparison with statistical data (big dataor the like) of games in the past.

In addition, the control device 14 (integrated with the image analyzingdevice 12) of the fraud detecting system has a structure capable ofextracting an abnormal situation or specifying an individual player 6 atthe play position 7 at which winning of a predetermined amount of moreis acquired. In such specifying of a player 6, the image of each face isspecified with a profit and an identify number (an ID or the like)assigned thereto in the image analyzing device 12. Then, the controldevice 14 has a warning function for giving a notification of thepresence of a specific player in another game table when the specifiedplayer 6 leaves a seat and arrives at the another game table. Morespecifically, a notice is given to a pit manager managing each gametable 4 or each table staff (or a dealer), wherein further prevention ofan abnormal phenomenon is achieved.

The control device 14 includes a database recording a history ofexchange of bills K and substitute currency 120 for gaming, refers tothe database at the interval of a predetermined time or in units of oneday and determines through a comparison whether or not the amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming acquired in the tray 17 forsubstitute currency for gaming for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 hasbeen increased or decreased according to a payed amount of substitutecurrency 120 for gaming corresponding to exchanged bills K or a totalamount of payment of bills K corresponding to exchanged substitutecurrency 120 for gaming.

In addition, a winning/losing history of each play position 7 and theamount (won amount) of acquired substitute currency for gaming may bemonitored without specifying an individual player 6.

In such a case, while, in a case where each player 6 leaves the seat,the player 6 cannot be tracked, an abnormal situation such as a casewhere, a state in which the amount of bet substitute currency for gamingis small at the time of losing a game at a specific play position 7 ofone game table 4, and the amount of bet substitute currency for gamingat the time of winning a game is large is continued for several games orthe like can be detected. Then, in a case where such a play position 7is detected, there is a suspicion that there is fraud or a mistake atthe play position 7. Then, by verifying a video in which the playposition 7 is imaged, a fraud or a mistake can be found.

More specifically, the camera device 2 is mounted to image at leastsubstitute currency 120 for gaming placed in the bet area 8 of the gametable 4. The image analyzing device 12 analyzes images captured by thecamera device 2 and detects a position among the positions of theplayer, the banker, and the tie of the bet area 8 at which substitutecurrency for gaming is placed for each user position 7 and the amount ofthe placed substitute currency for gaming. In addition, the carddistributing device 3 also functions as a winning/losing resultdetermining device and determines a result of winning/losing of a game.The control device 14, based on the position (the player, the banker, orthe tie) inside the bet area 8 at which the substitute currency 120 forgaming is placed and the result of winning/losing of the game, recordsmonitors) a winning/losing history for each play position 7 and theamount (an acquired amount of the substitute currency for gaming) of thesubstitute currency for gaming that has been acquired. Here, any one ofthe winning/losing history and the acquired amount of the substitutecurrency for gaming may be recorded. In a case where the winning/losinghistory/or the acquired amount of the substitute currency for gaming isin an abnormal situation (set in the casino) when compared with thestatistical data of many (big data) games in the past, the controldevice 14 specifies this player position 7 as a play position at which asuspicion of fraud is present.

In a case where there is a suspicion of fraud for a specific playerposition 7, the fraud detecting system may be configured to generate analarm (light, a sound, or a vibration) such that at least the dealergets near at the time point. In this way, a game thereafter is stoppedat least at the place or the like, and the continuation of fraud can beblocked. In addition, information representing a suspicion of fraud maybe added to a video that is captured and recorded by the camera device2. Accordingly, by checking the video, the cause of the suspicion offraud can be investigated.

The fraud detecting system in a game house including a game tableaccording to this embodiment further has a function of performing aninspection at the time of exchange of bills and substitute currency forgaming that is frequently performed in the game table 4. In a game housesuch as a casino, before a game, a player 6 exchanges bills (cash or thelike) and substitute currency for gaming at a predetermined substitutecurrency for gaming clearing house. However, when all the substitutecurrency for gaming is used, the player 6 can continue the game byexchanging cash (bills) with substitute currency 120 for gaming on thegame table (a Baccarat table or the like) without leaving the seat fromthe game table 4. However, here, there is a chance for fraud between thedealer 5 and the player. The exchange of cash (bills) for substitutecurrency 120 for gaming on a game table (for example, a Baccarat tableor the like) needs to be performed when a game does not advance. Inorder to determine winning/losing of a game, the card distributingdevice 3 can detect the start of dealing of cards and the end of dealing(a time period for determining winning/losing). For this reason, thecard distributing device 3 detects a situation other than thedistribution (dealing) of cards, and the control device 14 detectsexchange of bills and substitute currency 120 for gaming on the gametable 4 in a situation other than the dealing of cards (illustrated inFIG. 5).

Being in the middle of the dealing (or any other situation) of cards canbe detected based on information acquired from the operation of the carddistributing device 3 or the dealer 5.

The control device 14 can recognize the quantity and the amount of billsby performing an image analysis of the surfaces of the bills K. Inaddition, in the game table 4, it is determined whether or not bills Kto be exchanged for substitute currency 120 for gaming are genuine bydetecting genuine marks G of the bills by emitting black light. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the control device 14 has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure verifying the genuinemarks G through an image analysis, recognizing a total amount of genuinebills, being capable of recognizing a total amount of substitutecurrency for gaming even in a state in which a plurality of substitutecurrency for gaming come out onto the game table as an exchange targetis hidden due to a blind area of the camera device 2, comparing a totalamount of the bills K come out onto the game table 4 from a player witha total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming come out fromthe dealer 5, and being capable of determining whether or not both theamounts match each other.

The control device 14 has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-leaning structure capable of determining whether or not a totalamount of substitute currency 120 for gaming placed in the tray 17 forsubstitute currency for gaming for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 hasbeen increased/decreased according to a paid amount of substitutecurrency for gaming corresponding to the exchanged bills after asettlement through exchange of the bills and the substitute currency forgaming. A case may be considered as well in which the total amount ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming placed in the tray 17 forsubstitute currency for gaming for the dealer 5 is constantly acquiredin advance by using RFIDs of substitute currency 120 for gaming or thelike. In addition, the total amount of the substitute currency 120 forgaming housed in the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming can bedetected by imaging the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaminghousing the substitute currency 120 for gaming by using the cameradevice 2 and analyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12.

In addition, the control device 14 detects whether an increase/decreasein the amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming present insidethe tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming before and after theexchange of bills and the substitute currency for gaming matches anexchange amount of the substitute currency for gaming as a result of animage analysis on the game table 4. The amount of paid bills may beinput by the dealer 5 to the control device 14 through key input or thelike or may be specified by imaging an area disposed on the game table 4in which bills are paid by using the camera device 2 and analyzing theimage using the image analyzing device 12.

As described above, the control device 14 determines whether or not adecreased amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming from the tray17 for substitute currency for gaming according to the exchange of billsand the substitute currency for gaming matches the amount paid to thedealer 5 from players 6. In addition, the control device 14 is anintelligence-type control device capable of determining match/mismatchof an input amount (commonly, according to key input or the like) ofbills input by the dealer 5 and a calculated amount of bills that is aresult of an image analysis performed by the image analyzing device 12after the settlement through the exchange of the bills and thesubstitute currency for gaming through a comparison and calculation andmay have an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learningstructure.

Furthermore, the control device 14 has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of determiningmatch/mismatch of a total amount of bills according to the input of adealer in the game table 4 for which the dealer is responsible and atotal amount of bills according to a result of an image analysis usingthe image analyzing device 12 through a comparison and calculation.

The control device 14 determines whether or not the amount of substitutecurrency 120 for gaming perceived in the tray 17 for substitute currencyfor gaming for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 has increased/decreasedaccording to a paid amount of substitute currency 120 for gamingcorresponding to exchanged bills after the exchange of the bills and thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming or a paid amount of billscorresponding to the exchanged substitute currency 120 for gamingthrough a comparison.

The control device 14 is a control device having an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of acquiringinformation of the types and the quantities of the substitute currency120 for gaming even in a state in which a part of or the whole one unitof substitute currency for gaming is hidden when the types and thequantities of the substitute currency 120 for gaming are determined.

A management system according to a second embodiment relates to amanagement system of table games in a game house.

In a game house such as a casino, there are various attempts preventingdealer's mistakes in handling substitute currency for gaming (substitutecurrency for gaming). A game house includes monitoring cameras used formonitoring dealer's mistakes in handling substitute currency for gaming,and such mistakes are prevented using a determination of mistakes andfraud according to collection and repayment of substitute currency forgaming that are different from a result of winning/losing based onimages acquired using the monitoring cameras and the like.

Meanwhile, in order to acquire the quantity and a total amount ofsubstitute currency for gaming, it has been proposed to acquire theamount of the substitute currency for gaming by attaching an IC tag toeach substitute currency for gaming.

In a card game monitoring system disclosed in PCT ApplicationPublication No. PCT/JP2015/000171, it is determined whether or notsubstitute currency for gaming place on a game table is collected orre-payed according to a result of winning/losing by performing an imageanalysis of movement of the substitute currency for gaming, andmonitoring of dealer's mistakes in handling the substitute currency forgaming is performed.

In game houses such as casinos, while substitute currency for gaming ispiled to have a high volume and is placed on a game table, there is aproblem in that a total amount cannot be correctly read by a readingdevice for IC tags disposed under the game table, and, when thesensitivity of the reading device is increased, substitute currency orgaming placed at a different position (winning/losing depends on theposition) is added, and there is a problem in that a total amount ofsubstitute currency for gaming at each position cannot be perceived. Inaddition, conventionally, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the pattern ofsubstitute currency for gaming (substitute currency for gaming) 9 iscomplicated, and, when a plurality of substitute currency for gaming arepiled, there is a problem in that the quantity of such a pile cannot beaccurately acquired using a camera.

Furthermore, fraud on a game table has been advanced, and there is a newproblem in that fraud using an advanced betting method or the like thatcannot be found in simple detection of a large winning amount on a gametable or the like cannot be found by using a camera.

In addition, it is necessary for a dealer to collect or re-paidsubstitute currency for gaming placed on a game table according to aresult of winning/losing. In a case this is to be determined byperforming an image analysis of the substitute currency for gaming,since the pattern of the substitute currency for gaming (substitutecurrency for gaming) is complicated, there is a problem in that itcannot be determined whether or not a dealer correctly performsre-payment when substitute currency for gaming corresponding to the betsubstitute currency for gaming is re-payed by using a currently-existingpractical image analyzing technology, and the prevention of mistakes isnot sufficient.

In order to solve the various problems described above, a managementsystem of table games according to this embodiment includes: a carddistributing device that determines and displays a result ofwinning/losing of each game in a game table; a measurement device thatmeasures the types and the quantities of substitute currency for gamingplace on the game table by using a camera; and a management controldevice that specifies and stores the position, the types, and thequantity of substitute currency for gaming placed on the game table by agame participant by using a result of the measurement performed by themeasurement device in each game. The substitute currency for gaming hasa configuration in which a plurality of plastic layers of differentcolors are stacked, at least a coloring layer is included in the middle,and a stripe pattern in a stacking direction is formed on a side face byemploying a multi-layer structure in which white layers or thin-colorlayers are stacked on both sides of the coloring layer disposed in themiddle, and the type of the substitute currency for gaming can bespecified by using the coloring layer. The management control device hascalculation functions of determining a winner and a loser amongparticipants in each game by using a result of winning/losing acquiredfrom the card distributing device and a result of the measurement of theposition, the types, and the quantities of the substitute currency forgaming placed by each game participant and calculating the balance ofthe casino side in the game table for each game.

In addition, in the management system, the management control device hasa structure including a function of determining the quantity of thesubstitute currency for gaming by measuring the number of coloringlayers, the white layers, or the thin-color layers of the substitutecurrency for gaming placed by each game participant.

In order to solve the various problems, substitute currency for gamingaccording to this embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality ofplastic layers of different colors are stacked, at least a coloringlayer is included in the middle, and a stripe pattern in a stackingdirection is formed on a side face by stacking white layers orthin-color layers on both sides of the coloring layer, and the type ofthe substitute currency for gaming can be specified by using thecoloring layer.

In addition, in the substitute currency for gaming, on the surface ofthe white layer or the thin-color layer, a print representing the typeof the substitute currency for gaming is formed, transparent layers aredisposed in outermost layers, and each interlayer is thermos-compressedto form a structure of at least five layers.

In addition, in the substitute currency for gaming, marks using UV inkor ink (carbon black ink) absorbing infrared rays are arranged on thesurfaces of the white-color layers or the thin-color layers, orembossing processing is performed for the transparent layer of theoutermost layer, or R processing is performed for the ends of thetransparent layers of the outermost layers, or the coloring layer isformed by a plurality of layers, and RFIDs may be built in the coloringlayers.

In order to solve the various problems described above, an inspectiondevice inspecting substitute currency for gaming according to thisembodiment includes: a passage including an inlet and an output throughwhich the substitute currency for gaming can pass in a radial direction;a gaming substitute currency type determining device that determines acolor of the stripe in the staking direction of the side face by imagingthe side face of the substitute currency for gaming passing through thepassage; a mark reading device that reads a mark, which is formed usingthe UV ink or the ink (carbon black ink) absorbing infrared rays,arranged on the surface of the passing substitute currency for gaming; aprint inspecting device that reads a print representing the typearranged on the surface of the substitute currency for gaming in avertical direction with respect to the passage; and a control device ofthe whole device. The control device is configured to inspect whether ornot the type of the substitute currency for gaming determined by thegaming substitute currency type determining device matches a content ofthe print representing the type acquired by the print inspecting device.

According to the system of this embodiment, even in a case where manysubstitute currencies for gaming (substitute currency for gaming) arepiled up, the quantity of the substitute currencies for gaming can bedetermined, and a total amount of relatively overlapping substitutecurrency for gaming can be acquired based on the position and the color.

Hereinafter, a management system of table games in a game houseincluding a game table according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram that illustrates anoverview of the whole system. The management system of table games in agame house including a plurality of game tables 4 includes: ameasurement device 19 including an image analyzing device 18 thatrecords a state of process of a game played in the game table 4 as avideo including game participants 6 and a dealer 5 through a pluralityof camera devices 2 and performs an image analysis of the recorded videoof the state of process of the game; and a card distributing device 3that determines and displays a result of winning/losing of each game inthe game table 4. The card distributing device 3 is a so-calledelectronic shooter that has already been used by persons skilled in theart and has rules of a game programmed in advance and has a structurecapable of determining winning/losing of a game by reading informationof distributed cards C. For example, in a Baccarat game, winning of thebaker, winning of a player, or tie (drawn) is determined basically basedon the ranks of two to three cards, and a determination result (a resultof winning/losing) is displayed in a result display lamp 13.

The management control device 14 reads information (ranks and suits) ofcards C acquired from the card distributing device 3 and determines aresult of winning/losing of each game and determines a winner 6W and aloser 6L among the participants 6 in each game by using a result ofmeasurement of the position, the types, and the quantities of substitutecurrency 120 for gaming placed by the game participants 6.

In addition, the management control device 14 has a calculation functionof calculating a balance (an amount acquired by subtracting a totalamount of substitute currency 120 for gaming that is re-paid to a winner6W among the participants 6 from a total amount of substitute currency120 for gaming bet by the loser 6L) of the casino side in the game table1 for each game.

The image analyzing device 18, the measurement device 19, and themanagement control device 14 of this detection system have a structureintegrally including a computer formed as one body or by a plurality ofconfigurations, a program, and a memory.

Next, details of substitute currency for gaming used in this detectionsystem will be described. FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional view ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming used in this detection system. Thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming has a multi-layer structure in whicha plurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked, acoloring layer 121 is included at least in the middle, and white layers122 or thin-color layers (while not illustrated in the drawing, thelayers may be layers of a color that is thinner than that of thecoloring layer 121) are stacked on both sides of the coloring layer 121of the middle.

In this way, by employing a multi-layer structure in which the coloringlayer 121 is included, and white layers 122 or thin-color layers (whilenot illustrated in the drawing, the layers may be layers of a color thatis thinner than that of the coloring layer 121) are stacked on bothsides of the coloring layer 121 of this middle, as illustrated in FIG.9A, a stripe pattern is formed on the side face in the stackingdirection, and the type of the substitute currency 120 for gaming can bespecified by changing the color (red, green, yellow, blue, or the like)of the coloring layer 121 for each type (10 points, 20 points, 100points, 1000 points, and the like) of the substitute currency 120 forgaming.

The substitute currency 120 for gaming is configured as a structure bodyincluding the coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 or thethin-color layer at least in the outer appearance to form a stripepattern in the axial direction on the side face and has a configurationenabling the type of the substitute currency 120 for gaming to bespecified using the coloring layer 121. While FIGS. 10A and 10Billustrate different examples, in the examples, the coloring layer 121and the white layer 122 or the thin-color layer are formed throughinjection molding, and so-called two-color molding is used in which,first, the coloring layer 121 is molded inside a die for molding (notillustrated in the drawing), and thereafter, the white layer 122 or thethin-color layer is molded.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, in the substitute currency 120for gaming, prints 123 (100 points or the like) representing the type ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming are formed on the surfaces (theupper face and the lower face) of the white layer 122. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the transparent layers 124 are disposed in the outermost layers,and each interlayer is thermos-compressed, and a structure of at leastfive layers is formed. Such substitute currency 120 for gaming is formedby using a plastic material having a thin long shape, and layers (thecoloring layer 121, the white layer 122, and the transparent layer 124)are thermo-compressed to form a closely adhering state (a structure offive layers or the like) in the state of a long length, and thereafter,holes having a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or the like areformed therein through press or the like.

When a hole is formed through the press, die of mold for punching, andthe size of punching are designed, and R processing (round angle) isperformed for the ends of the transparent layer 124 of the outermostlayer.

That is, in order to manufacture the substitute currency 120 for gaming,first, a plate-shaped coloring layer 121 formed using plastic and aplate shaped white layer 122 or a thin-color layer formed using plasticare stacked, and a stacked structure body configured by a plurality ofplastic layers is formed. Then, drawing patterns are printed on theupper face and the lower face of this stacked structure body, andtransparent layers 124 are formed thereon. Then, the layers of thestacked structure body and the transparent layers 124 are heated andpressed to be heated and welded, whereby a substitute currency originalplate is generated. Then, punching processing is performed for thesubstitute currency original plate acquired in this way, whereby aplurality of substitute currencies 120 for gaming having a predeterminedshape are acquired. When this punching processing is performed, Rprocessing is performed for upper and lower angles of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming using a mold.

In addition, in the substitute currency 120 for gaming, face codes usingthe UV ink or ink (carbon black ink) absorbing an infrared rays arearranged on the surface of the white layer 122 (see FIG. 9B). This facecodes represent the authenticity of the substitute currency 120 forgaming, and, when ultraviolet rays (or infrared rays) are emittedthereto, a mark is visible to the eyes, and a combination of the formand the number of the marks represents the authenticity. FIG. 11 is aperspective view of a state in which the substitute currency 120 forgaming is stacked up, and a face code M is acquired by combining a longcode L and a short code S. In the outermost layers, while transparentlayers (print layers) 124 are thermally compressed or formed as coatinglayers to cover the print 123 and the face code, embossing processing isperformed for these transparent layers 124, and the close adherencebetween the substitute currencies 120 for gaming is prevented. Inaddition, in this embodiment, while an example has been described inwhich face codes are printed on the surfaces of the white layers 122,instead of the face codes or together with the face codes, one or bothof a security mark and an optically variable device (OVD) may beprinted.

The R processing (R) is performed for the ends of the transparent layers(print layer) 124 of the outermost layer for which the print 123 (100points or the like), and in the punching process of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, the surfaces of the white layers 122 areprevented from being deformed to appear on the side face. In addition,it is prevented that a sharp end remains in the substitute currency 120for gaming and damages the hands or the other substitute currency 120for gaming.

The coloring layer 121, as illustrated in FIG. 8, may be formed by aplurality of colored layers (three layers in the case illustrated inFIG. 8). Since the plurality of colored layers (three layers in the caseillustrated in FIG. 8) are thermos-compressed, a state in which thethree-layer structure can be visually observed, as illustrated in FIG.8, is not formed. However, three layers are illustrated in FIG. 8 fordescription. In addition, in a middle layer among the three layers ofthe coloring layer 121, a partly hollowed portion B is arranged, and anRFID 125 is built therein.

In addition, without arranging the hollowed portion B in the coloringlayer 121, the RFID 125 may be built in the substitute currency 120 forgaming by arranging the RFID 125 between the coloring layer 121 having aflat surface and the white layer 122 having a flat surface andperforming thermos-compressing of the coloring layer 121 and the whitelayer 122 as it is. By configuring at least one of the coloring layer121 and the white layer 122 using a material such as plastic that can bethermally deformed, out of the coloring layer 121 and the white layer122 having the RFID 125 interposed therebetween through thermalcompression, a plastic layer is thermally deformed, and accordingly, theRFID 125 is tightly fixed between such layers without arranging thehollowed portion B.

FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory photographic diagram thatillustrates a state in which substitute currency for gaming of differenttypes are piled up. The management control device 14 images substitutecurrency 120 for gaming placed on the game table 1 by the gameparticipant 6 by using the camera device 2 and measures each area 8(whether the bet is on the banker, the player, the pair, or the tie) inwhich the substitute currency 120 for gaming is placed by using themeasurement device 19 including the image analyzing device 18, and themeasurement device 19 (by using information acquired by the imageanalyzing device 18) analyzes and measures the number and the colors ofcoloring layers 121 (or the thin-color layers) or white layers 122 ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming that is stacked in each area anddetermines the types and the quantities of the substitute currency 120for gaming. The management control device 14 performs control of thecamera device 2 such that imaging using the camera device 2 is performedwhen the first card is drawn from the card distributing device, beforeand after the drawing, or after a dealer's sign representing the end ofbetting.

The management control device 14 may be a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure. Themanagement control device 14 can perceive the position 8 (a positionbetting on a player, a banker, or a pair), the types (a value of adifferent amount is assigned to the substitute currency 120 for gamingfor each color), and the quantities of the substitute currency 120 forgaming that is bet by each participant 6 through the camera device 2 andthe image analyzing device 18. The artificial intelligence-utilizingcomputer or control system can perceive the position 8 (a positionbetting on a player, a banker, or a pair), the types (a value of adifferent amount is assigned to the substitute currency for gaming foreach color), and the quantities of the substitute currency 120 forgaming by using a self-learning function or the like in thedeep-learning (structure) technology, and thus, according to a result ofwinning/losing of a game determined by the card distributing device 3 ineach game, determines whether or not the collection (denoted using anarrow L) of substitute currency 120 for gaming bet by a losingparticipant 6L and the re-payment (payment (120W)) for winningsubstitute currency 120 for gaming for the winning game participant 6Ware appropriately performed according to a result of winning/failure ofthe game in each game by analyzing a video of the state of progress ofthe game by using the management control device 14 through the imageanalyzing device 18.

In such a case, as illustrated in FIG. 11 (compared to conventionalsubstitute currency for gaming illustrated in FIG. 7), a stackedmulti-layer structure is formed, and a stripe pattern is formed on theside face in the stacking direction, and accordingly, the measurementdevice 19 including the image analyzing device 18 can accurately performthe measurement of the types and the quantities of substitute currencyfor gaming in an easy manner. In addition, by using an artificialintelligence-utilizing computer or control system and a deep-learning(structure) technology, the analysis and the determination of the imagecan be performed more accurately. The artificial intelligence-utilizingcomputer or control system and the deep-learning (structure) technologyare known to persons skilled in the art and can be used, and thus,detailed description thereof will be abbreviated.

The management control device 14 can analyze and perceive a total amountof substitute currency 120 for gaming in the tray 17 for substitutecurrency for gaming for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 by using theimage analyzing device 18 and can determine through a comparison andcalculation whether or not a total amount of the substitute currency 120for gaming placed inside the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaminghas been increased/decreased according to the collection of the losingsubstitute currency 120 for gaming bet by each game participant 6 andthe amount of the payment 120W for winning substitute currency forgaming to the winning game participant 6W after the game ends and issettled based on the result of winning/losing of the game. The totalamount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming in the tray 17 forsubstitute currency for gaming may be constantly acquired by using meanssuch as RFIDs, and it is determined whether or not theincreased/decreased amount is correct by the management control device14 by analyzing a video of the state of progress of the game through theimage analyzing device 18. For these, an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure may be utilized.

In addition, the management control device 14 may have an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of acquiringthe position (a position for betting on the player, the banker, or thefair) and the amount (the types and quantities) of bet substitutecurrency for gaming at each player position 7 of the game table 4,comparing a winning/losing history of each player 6 and the amount (wonamount) of acquired substitute currency for gaming that can be acquiredbased on the result of winning/losing of each game with statistical dataof many (big data) games in the past, and extracting an abnormalsituation (set in the casino). Typically, the management control device14 is included which has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of extracting an occurrence of a wonamount of a certain amount (one million dollars) or more and an abnormalsituation in which, in a play position 7 of a specific game table 4, astate in which the amount of bet substitute currency for gaming is smallat the time of losing a game, and the amount of bet substitute currencyfor gaming is large at the time of winning a game is continued forseveral games and is determined as an abnormal situation based on acomparison with statistical data (big data or the like) of games in thepast.

The total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming in the tray17 for substitute currency for gaming for the dealer 5 of the game table4 is settled for the substitute currency 120 for gaming bet by eachparticipant 6 after each game, and the management control device 14 hasa structure capable of determining through a comparison and calculationwhether or not an increase/decrease in the substitute currency forgaming that corresponds to a settlement is correct after the settlement.

In the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming used for storing thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming for the dealer 5 illustrated in FIG.6, the types and the quantities of the substitute currency 120 forgaming can be determined by analyzing and measuring the numbers and thecolors of the coloring layers 121 or the white layers 122 of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming stacked in the horizontal directionby using the measurement device 19 (by using the information acquired bythe image analyzing device 18). The total amount of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming for the tray 17 for storing substitute currencyfor gaming is constantly (or at predetermined time intervals) acquiredin this way. As the management control device 14 has a calculationfunction of calculating a settlement amount (calculation of a balance ofthe casino side in the game table 4 (an amount acquired by subtracting atotal amount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming re-paid to thewinner 6W among the participants 6 from a total amount of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming bet by the loser 6L) of each game for each game(see description presented above), the total amount of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming of the tray 17 for substitute currency forgaming is constantly (or at intervals of a predetermined time) isverified. That is, it is verified whether or not an increase/decrease inthe substitute currency for gaming matches a result of an image analysisperformed by the image analyzing device 18 and the settlement amount ofeach game performed by the dealer 5.

FIG. 13A is a diagram that illustrates details of a tray for substitutecurrency for gaming according to this embodiment, and FIG. 13B is adiagram that illustrates another example of the substitute currency forgaming. In the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming, a collectiontray 171 for substitute currency for gaming that is used for collectingand temporarily storing substitute currency 120L for gaming that is betby a losing player 6L and a repayment tray 172 for substitute currency120W for gaming that is used for storing substitute currency 120L forgaming to be re-payed are arranged. The image analyzing device 12 andthe control device 14 acquire the position, the type, and the quantityof substitute currency 120L for gaming that is bet by the losing player6L and calculates an increased amount (an amount of substitute currency120L for gaming to be present in the collection tray 171 for substitutecurrency 120 for gaming) of substitute currency 120L for gaming in thegame. In addition, the image analyzing device 12 and the control device14 acquire a real total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gamingin the tray 171 for substitute currency for gaming after the collectionand determine whether or not there is a difference between the totalamount and the real total amount through a comparison.

Here, the tray 17 for substitute currency for gaming that is illustratedabove has a two-stage structure formed by an upper stage tray 17 a forsubstitute currency for gaming and a lower stage tray 17 b forsubstitute currency for gaming. FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams thatillustrate a relation between the tray 17 for substitute currency forgaming having a two-stage structure and a camera device 2, FIG. 14Aillustrates a state in which two stages overlap each other, and FIG. 14Billustrates a state in which two stages are shifted from each other. Inthe lower stage of the upper stage tray 17 a for substitute currency forgaming, the lower stage tray 17 b for substitute currency for gaming ispresent, and the upper stage tray 17 a for substitute currency forgaming and the lower stage tray 17 b for substitute currency for gamingare connected through a hinge 17 c. In a case where substitute currency120 for gaming placed in the upper stage tray 17 a for substitutecurrency 120 for gaming is insufficient, substitute currency 120 forgaming is supplemented from the lower stage tray 17 b for substitutecurrency for gaming to the upper stage tray 17 a for substitute currencyfor gaming. On the other hand, in a case where substitute currency 120for gaming placed in the upper stage tray 17 a for substitute currencyfor gaming is excessive, the substitute currency for gaming is moved tothe lower stage tray 17 b for substitute currency for gaming.

In order to take in the substitute currency 120 for gaming from thelower stage tray 17 b for substitute currency for gaming, the upperstage tray 17 a for substitute currency for gaming is moved using thehinge 17 c to be in a state illustrated in FIG. 14B. In the stateillustrated in FIG. 14A, the upper stage tray 17 a for substitutecurrency for gaming is imaged by the camera device 2, and, in the stateillustrated in FIG. 14B, the lower stage tray 17 b for substitutecurrency for gaming can be imaged using the camera device 2. In thestate illustrated in FIG. 14B, the upper stage tray 17 a for substitutecurrency for gaming and the lower stage tray 17 b for substitutecurrency for gaming can be imaged by the camera device 2 csimultaneously and in a state in which the trays can be identified fromeach other. In addition, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the upperstage tray 17 a for substitute currency for gaming and the lower stagetray 17 b for substitute currency for gaming may be separately imaged.The camera devices 2 and 2 c may respectively include a visible lightcamera corresponding to printed ink of a side ID 126 and an infrared-raycamera or may be cameras switchable between a plurality of functions ofa visible-light camera corresponding to printed ink and an infrared-raycamera.

Next, an inspection device 200 inspecting the substitute currency 120for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 15. The inspection device 200 includesa passage 203 that includes an inlet 201 through which substitutecurrency 120 for gaming can pass in the radial direction (the directionof an arrow Y) and an outlet 202. The passage 203 inclines, and thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming passes in the direction of the arrowY). In the passage 203, a gaming substitute currency type determiningdevice 204 that images the side face of the substitute currency 120 forgaming and determines the color of a stripe pattern of the side face inthe stacking direction; a mark reading device 205 that reads a face codeas a face code using UV ink or ink (carbon black ink) absorbing infraredrays arranged on the surface of the passing substitute currency 120 forgaming; a print inspecting device 206 that reads the print 123representing the type arranged on the surface of substitute currency forgaming in the vertical direction with respect to the passage 203; and acontrol device 207 for the whole device. The control device 207 isconfigured to inspect whether or not the type of the substitute currencyfor gaming determined by the gaming substitute currency type determiningdevice 204 matches a content of the print representing the type acquiredfrom the print inspecting device 206.

By using this inspection device 200, it can be inspected whether or notthe print 123 of the manufactured substitute currency 120 for gamingmatches the type of the substitute currency for gaming according to thecolor of the stripe pattern of the substitute currency 120 for gamingand is correctly printed.

As above, the substitute currency 120 for gaming according to thisembodiment has a stacked structure, in which the coloring layer 121 andthe white layer 122 or thin-color layers having the coloring layer 121interposed therebetween are stacked, formed by a plurality of plasticlayers and thus, has a side face on which a stride pattern is formed inthe stacking direction. The substitute currency 120 for gaming has aconfiguration enabling the type of the substitute currency 120 forgaming to be specified using the coloring layer 121 appearing on theside face. In addition, prints are performed for the upper face and thelower face of the substitute currency 120 for gaming. More specifically,prints are performed for the surface of the white layer 122 of thethin-color layer, and the transparent layer 124 is included on the upperface thereof. The coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 or thethin-color layer and the print layer 124 are thermos-compressed togetherto form a layered structure.

The white layers 122 or the thin-color layers having the coloring layer121 interposed therebetween may be configured to have different depthsin the vertical direction from each other.

In addition, in this embodiment, the R processing is performed for theouter edges of the upper face and the lower face of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming. Accordingly, it can be prevented that aplayer's hand handling the substitute currency 120 for gaming hurts, orthe substitute currency 120 for gaming damages the other substitutecurrency 120 for gaming.

In addition, in this embodiment, the RFID 125 is tightly fixed betweenplastic layers each forming one of the coloring layer 121 and the whitelayer 122 or the thin-color layer.

In addition, in this embodiment, on the upper face and/or the lower faceof the substitute currency 120 for gaming, face codes using UV emissionink, infrared absorption ink such as ink (carbon black ink) absorbinginfrared rays are arranged. In addition, as a modified example of thisembodiment, one or both of a security mark and an optical variabledevice (OVD) may be printed on the surfaces of the substitute currency120 for gaming instead of the face codes or together with the facecodes.

In addition, the substitute currency 120 for gaming according to thisembodiment has a structure in which the side ID 126 is attached to theside face, the RFID 125 is built, and face codes using UV emission inkor infrared absorption ink are arranged on the upper face or the lowerface (the print layer 124). Then, the information of a side ID 126 andthe information of an RFID 125 are associated with each other, theinformation of a side ID 126 and information of a face code areassociated with each other, or the information of a side ID 126,information of an RFID 125, and the information of a face code areassociated with each other.

In addition, the inspection device 200 according to this embodimentincludes: the measurement device 19 of the type of substitute currency120 for gaming that images the side face of the substitute currency 120for gaming and determines the color of the stripe pattern of the sideface in the stacking direction; and the mark reading device 205 thatreads the print of the substitute currency for gaming. In this way, arelation between the type of substitute currency for gaming and thecontent of a print can be inspected.

The management control device 14 according to this embodiment performsimaging for determining the position, the types, and the quantities ofsubstitute currency for gaming placed by a game participant in each gamewhen the first card is drawn from the card distributing device 3, beforeand after drawing, or after a dealer's sign representing the end ofbetting.

In addition, the substitute currency 120 for gaming according to thisembodiment is manufactured as below. First, a stacked structure bodyincluding a plurality of plastic layers is formed by heating andpressing the coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 or thethin-film layers. Then, a drawing pattern is printed at least on theupper face or the lower face of the stacked structure body, whereby asubstitute currency original plate is generated. Then, punchingprocessing is performed for the substitute currency original plate byusing a mold, whereby a plurality of substitute currencies for gaminghaving a predetermined shape are acquired. Here, at the time of punchingprocessing, R processing is performed for the outer edges of the upperand lower faces of the substitute currency 120 for gaming by using amold.

In addition, in a case where substitute currency 120 for gaming havingside IDs is to be manufactured, side IDs are printed on the side facesof the white layers 122 or the thin-color layers through inkjetprinting. Furthermore, in a case where substitute currency 120 forgaming including an RFID is to be manufactured, an RFID is interposedbetween the layers of the stacked structure body, and the layers havingthe RFID interposed therebetween are heated and welded when the layersare thermos-compressed, whereby the periphery of the RFID is tightlyfixed by the plastic layers.

In addition, the management system of table games according to thisembodiment includes: the card distributing device 13 that determines anddisplays a result of winning/losing of each game in the game table 4;the camera device 2 that images substitute currency 120 for gamingplaced on the game table 4; and the management control device 14 thatspecifies and stores the position, the types, and the quantities ofsubstitute currency for gaming placed by the game participant 6 on thegame table 4 by using a result of the imaging performed by the cameradevice 2. The substitute currency 120 for gaming is a stacked structurebody in which the coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 or thethin-color layers are stacked and has a stripe pattern on the side facein the stacking direction. The management control device 14 has acalculation function calculating a balance of the casino side in thegame table 4 for each game based on a result of winning/losing acquiredfrom the card distributing device 13 and the position, the types, andthe quantities of the substitute currency 120 for gaming specified usingthe imaging result of the camera device 2.

The management control device 14 has a function of measuring the numberof the coloring layers 121 or the white layers 122 or the thin-colorlayers of substitute currency 120 for gaming placed by each gameparticipant 6, determines the types and the amounts of the substitutecurrency for gaming by using the colors of the coloring layer 121, anddetermining the quantities of the substitute currency 120 for gaming.

A system according to a third embodiment relates to a management systemof substitute currency for gaming preventing the use of fake substitutecurrency for gaming in a game house in a casino or other game facilitiesusing substitute currency for gaming.

Among many live table games played in a casino or a game facility, thereare Baccarat and blackjack. In such games, a standard deck configured by52 playing cards is used, and playing cards are distributed to a gametable from a shooter including a plurality of decks (6 to 9 decks or 10decks) shuffled in advance, and a game is played. In a casino or a gamefacility, substitute currency for gaming is used for such games.

The use of fake substitute currency for gaming should not occur in acasino. In order to prevent the use of fake substitute currency forgaming in a casino, there is a technology for preventing the use of fakesubstitute currency for gaming by attaching an RFID to substitutecurrency for gaming. The RFID-attached substitute currency for gaming isknown and is disclosed in WO 2008/120749 A.

This embodiment provides a management system or substitute currency forgaming preventing the use of fakes of substitute currency for gamingused in a casino or a game facility, and the use and unjust exchange offake substitute currency for gaming in a casino or a game facility canbe prevented. In recent years, the technologies for manufacturing fakesubstitute currency for gaming evolve, and technologies advance up to alevel of copying an authenticity determination mark or an RFID almostperfectly. As a result, a mark or an RFID that is the same as a genuineauthenticity determination mark or a genuine RFID is attached tosubstitute currency for gaming, genuine and fake substitute currency forgaming cannot be discriminated from each other, and there is a problemin that it is almost impossible to perform an authenticitydetermination.

In order to solve the conventional problem described above, a managementsystem of substitute currency for gaming according to this embodimentincludes: substitute currency for gaming to which a side ID that can beindividually identified is attached; an ID reading device that reads aside ID attached to the substitute currency for gaming; a storage inwhich the substitute currency for gaming is stored in a cashier of agame house; a game table gaming substitute currency tray that stores thesubstitute currency for gaming; a gaming substitute currency determiningdevice that specifies types and quantities of the substitute currencyfor gaming stored in the game table gaming substitute currency tray andthe storage by using the ID reading device; and a management controldevice that manages the IDs associated with the substitute currency forgaming in a database. The management control device has functions ofregistering the IDs of the substitute currency for gaming to be used inthe database in advance, managing the IDs of the substitute currency forgaming present at least in the game table gaming substitute currencytray and the storage in the database together with presence informationby using the database, specifying the substitute currency for gaming inthe game table gaming substitute currency tray and the storage atpredetermined timing, searching the database, determining the followingevents through the database search 1) an ID not present in the databaseis newly present 2) two or more same IDs are present, and generating anerror signal when a situation of 1) or 2) described above is present.

In addition, the management control device has functions capable of,when there is a change in the presence of the substitute currency forgaming at least in the game table gaming substitute currency tray andthe storage, recording time or a place at which there is the change inthe database in association with the ID, searching the database, whenthere is a situation in which two or more same IDs are present,extracting the ID and information of time or a place recorded inassociation with the ID in the database from the database and storingextracted information, and specifying time when the substitute currencyfor gaming to which the ID is attached, which is detected first,enters/exits the game table gaming substitute currency tray or thestorage or a place of the game table gaming substitute currency tray orthe storage in which the substitute currency for gaming is stored.

Furthermore, the management system of substitute currency for gaming mayfurther include: a bet area gaming substitute currency determiningdevice specifying the types and quantities of the substitute currencyfor gaming bet on a bet area of the game table by using the ID readingdevice and may have functions of determining the following eventsthrough a search of the database also for the ID of the substitutecurrency for gaming present in the bet area of the game table 1) an IDthat has not been present in the database is newly present 2) presenceof two or more same IDs and generating an error signal when there is asituation of 1) or 2) described above.

In addition, side IDs are attached to at least three positions on theside face of the substitute currency for gaming. The side IDs areattached through inkjet printing by using ink that is visible usingvisible light. Particularly, a configuration is advantageous in whichthe side ID is attached as presence/absence of marks of a plurality ofrows and a plurality of columns. In addition, transparent coating layersor varnish is disposed on the upper and lower faces of the substitutecurrency for gaming.

In order to solve the conventional problems, substitute currency forgaming according to this embodiment forms a stripe pattern on the sideface in the stacking direction by employing a multi-layer structure inwhich a plurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked,a coloring layer is included at least in one layer, white layers orthin-color layers are stacked on a further outer side than the coloringlayer and has a configuration enabling the type of the substitutecurrency for gaming to be specified by the coloring layer. In addition,side IDs are attached to at least three positions on the side faces ofthe white layers and the thin-color layers, and the type and themanufacturing information of substitute currency for gaming can bespecified by reading the ID by using the ID reading device, and aconfiguration in which the ID can be managed in a database is included.Then, the side ID may be attached using ink (visible ink) that isvisible for visible light through inkjet printing. The side ID may beattached using ink (ink absorbing infrared rays, UV ink, or the like)that is not visible for visible light through inkjet printing. Inaddition, the side ID may be printed using at least two or more of inkthat is visible for visible light, ink absorbing infrared rays, and UVink.

In order to solve the conventional problems described above, substitutecurrency for gaming according to this embodiment has a side ID that canbe individually identified attached thereto, the side ID attached to thesubstitute currency for gaming is read by an ID reading device, the IDreading device can read the substitute currency for gaming stored in astorage maintained by a cashier of a game house and a gaming substitutecurrency tray of a game table, in addition, the types and the quantitiesof the substitute currency for gaming stored in the gaming substitutecurrency tray and the storage are specified by a gaming substitutecurrency determining device through the ID reading device, the ID of thesubstitute currency for gaming present in the gaming substitute currencytray of the game table and the storage is managed in the databasetogether with the presence information thereof, it is inspected whetherat least 1) an ID that has not been present in the database is newlypresent and 2) two or more same IDs are present, and the ID enabling theoccurrence of the situation 1) or 2) described above to be determined isincluded.

Hereinafter, a management system of substitute currency for gaming in agame house including a game table according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference the drawings. FIG. 16is a diagram that illustrates an overview of the whole system. Themanagement system of substitute currency for gaming in a game houseincluding a plurality of game tables 4 (only one game table isillustrated in FIG. 16) images the state of progress of a game played inthe game table 4 including a game participant 6 and a dealer 5 through aplurality of camera devices 2 and stores and manages the state.Particularly, the management system of substitute currency for gamingspecifies the types and the quantities of substitute currency 120 forgaming used in the game table 4 by analyzing image information acquiredby the camera device 2. A side ID 126 is attached to the side face ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming, and the types and the quantitiesof the substitute currency 120 for gaming is acquired by determining theside ID 126 and reading the types and the quantities. In addition, inthis specification, a description of “side ID” or “ID” is used not onlyin the meaning of an ID as a physical entity attached to the side faceof the substitute currency 120 for gaming but also in the meaning ofidentification information represented thereby. An ID reading device 53disposed inside a management control device 50 connected to the cameradevice 2 specifies a side ID 126 by analyzing image information acquiredfrom the camera device 2. Particularly, the management control device 50includes a gaming substitute currency determining device 52 specifyingthe types and the quantities of the substitute currency 120 for gamingthat is in a horizontally aligned state or in a piled state based on aresult of the reading of the side ID 126 acquired by analyzing the imagedata imaged through the camera device 2 therein.

In addition, the management system according to this embodiment isconfigured to image substitute currency 120 for gaming disposed on agame table 4 by using a plurality of camera devices 2 b-1 and 2 b-2,which have different heights, arranged at predetermined positions inaddition to the camera device 2 that images the substitute currency 120for gaming and records an acquired image. The camera device 2 b-1 canimage substitute currency 120 for gaming disposed at a relatively farposition on the game table 4, and the camera device 2 b-2 is configuredto image substitute currency 120 for gaming disposed relatively close onthe game table 4. By performing imaging the two camera devices 2 b-1 and2 b-2, substitute currency 120 for gaming disposed at a place that is ina blind area for one of the camera devices can be imaged as well.

In a plurality of cashiers 60 present in a game house, the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming is exchanged with cash 61 paid by a gameparticipant 6, and, in each cashier 60, substitute currency 120 forgaming is stored in a storage 62 storing the substitute currency 120 forgaming. In each cashier 60 of a game house, substitute currency 120 forgaming brought by a game participant 6 is refunded into cash 61. In thegame table 4, substitute currency 120 for gaming is stored in a gametable gaming substitute currency tray 17, and a dealer 5 collectssubstitute currency 120 for gaming bet by a game participant 6 who haslost the game from the table 4 in each game, returns the collectedsubstitute currency 120 for gaming to the game table gaming substitutecurrency tray 17, and then re-pays the substitute currency 120 forgaming to a game participant 6 who has won each game. All such exchangesbetween a game participant 6 and a cashier 60 of a game table or adealer 5 are imaged and recorded by all the camera devices 2. In thestorage 62 or the game table gaming substitute currency tray 17, whenthere is exchange of substitute currency 120 for gaming with a gameparticipant 6, the substitute currency 120 for gaming stored in thestorage 62 or the game table gaming substitute currency tray 17increases or decreases. The types and the quantities of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming stored in the game table gaming substitutecurrency tray 17 and the storage 62 are monitored at predeterminedtiming or constantly by the ID reading device 53 and the gamingsubstitute currency determining device 52 through the camera device 2.The management control device 50 stores the side IDs 126 of all thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming assumed to be used in a game house inthe database 51 in advance (the side IDs 126 of all the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming assumed to be used in the game house areregistered).

In addition, also in this embodiment, the gaming substitute currencytray 17, as illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, may be configured by anupper gaming substitute currency tray 17 a and a lower gaming substitutecurrency tray 17 b of upper/lower two stages. In such a case, in thestate illustrated in FIG. 14A, the upper gaming substitute currency tray17 a can be imaged by the camera device 2, and, in the state illustratedin FIG. 14B, the lower gaming substitute currency tray 17 b can beimaged by the camera device 2. In the state illustrated in FIG. 14B,additionally, the upper gaming substitute currency tray 17 a and thelower gaming substitute currency tray 17 b can be imaged by the cameradevice 2 c simultaneously and also in an individually-identifiablestate. In addition, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the uppergaming substitute currency tray 17 a and the lower gaming substitutecurrency tray 17 b may be separately imaged. Each of the camera devices2 and 2 c may include a single visible-light camera or a single infraredray camera corresponding to ink printed for the side ID 126 or a cameracapable of performing switching among a plurality of functions of avisible-light camera and an infrared-ray camera corresponding to theprinted ink.

In this way, in the game house, by using the database 51, the managementcontrol device 50 managing the side IDs 126 associated with substitutecurrency 120 for gaming manages all the side IDs 126 of at leastsubstitute currency 120 for gaming present in the game table gamingsubstitute currency tray 17 and the storage 62 in the database 51together with the presence information thereof (the storage 62, the gametable gaming substitute currency tray 17, in the middle of moving from abackyard (not illustrated in the drawing), held by a game participant 6,or the like). The management control device 50 specifies all thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming disposed in the game table gamingsubstitute currency tray 17 and the storage 62 by using the side IDs 126at predetermined timing or constantly, searches the database 51, anddetermines the following events through the search of the database 51:

1) A side ID 126 that has not been present (or not present) in thedatabase 51 is determined to be newly present.

2) Two or more same IDs are determined to be present.

The management control device 50 has a function of generating an errorsignal representing an abnormality and giving a notification to amanagement division or a security division 54 of the game house when thesituation of 1) or 2) described above is present. The management controldevice 50 specifies all the substitute currency 120 for gaming disposedin the game table gaming substitute currency tray 17 and the storage 62at predetermined timing or constantly by using the side IDs 126 andstores all the substitute currency 120 for gaming in the database 51 andthus, can determine that 1) a side ID 126 that has not been present (ornot present) in the database 51 is newly present and 2) two or more sameIDs are present.

In addition, when there is a change in the presence of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming at least in the game table gaming substitutecurrency tray 17 and the storage 62, the management control device 50records time or a place (the storage 62, the game table gamingsubstitute currency tray 17, or the like) at which the change is presentin the database 51 in association with the side ID 126 and, as a resultof the search of the database 51, when there is a situation in which twoor more same side IDs 126 are present, extracts the side ID 126 andinformation of time or a place recorded in the database 51 inassociation with the side ID 126 from the database 51 and stores theside ID and the information that have been extracted, and thus, time atwhich substitute currency 120 for gaming to which the side ID 126 isattached, which has been detected first (used first or cashed),enters/exits the game table gaming substitute currency tray 17 or thestorage 13 or a place of the game table gaming substitute currency tray17 or the storage 13 in which the substitute currency 120 for gaming isstored can be specified by using the database 51. When the time and theplace can be specified, a suspicious person for the use of unjustsubstitute currency 120 for gaming or the like can be specified from therecorded video of the camera device 2.

In this management system of substitute currency for gaming, themanagement control device 50 can specify the types and the quantities ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming bet on the bet area 8 of the gametable 4 by using the ID reading device 53. The substitute currency 120for gaming of the bet area 8 is imaged by the camera device 2 b thatparticularly images the bet area 8 and, also for the side ID 126 of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming present on the bet area 8 of the gametable 4, determines the following events by searching the database 51:

1) A side ID 126 that has not been present in the database 51 is newlypresent in the bet area 16.

2) Two or more same IDs are present.

The management control device 50 has a function of generating an errorsignal when a situation of 1) or 2) described above is present.

The management control device 50 of this system, the ID reading device53 disposed inside, and the gaming substitute currency determiningdevice 52 specifying the types and the quantities of substitute currency120 for gaming have a structure integrally including a computer formedas one body or by a plurality of configurations, a program, and amemory.

Next, details of substitute currency 120 for gaming (so-calledsubstitute currency for gaming) used in this system will be described.FIG. 17 is a side view of substitute currency 120 for gaming used inthis system, the substitute currency 120 for gaming is formed bystacking a plurality of plate-shaped plastic layers having differentcolors, forming the plastic layers to be integrated using a means ofthermo-compressing or the like, and then, punching holes in the shapesof circles and quadrangles. The substitute currency 120 for gamingmanufactured in this way has a multi-layer structure in which a coloringlayer 121 is included at least in the middle, and white layers 122 orthin-color layers (may be layers of a color thinner than that of thecoloring layer 121; not illustrated in the drawing) are stacked on bothsides (in FIG. 17, the upper and lower sides) of the coloring layer 121disposed in the middle. In this way, by employing the multi-layerstructure in which the coloring layer 121 is included, and the whitelayers 122 or the thin-color layers (may be layers of a color thinnerthan that of the coloring layer 121; not illustrated in the drawing) arestacked on both sides of the coloring layer 121 disposed in the middle,as illustrated in FIG. 17, a stripe pattern (in the stacking direction)when seen from the side face is formed, and, by changing the color (red,green, yellow, blue, or the like) of the coloring layer 121 for eachtype (10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, and the like) ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming, the type of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming can be specified.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 17, in the substitute currency 120for gaming, a side ID 126 representing the type of substitute currency120 for gaming is applied to the side faces of the white layers 122.

In the outermost layers, transparent layers 124 are arranged, and eachinterlayer is thermo-compressed to form a structure of at least fivelayers. Such substitute currency 120 for gaming is formed by using aplastic material having a thin long shape, and layers (at least thecoloring layer 121 and the white layers 122) are thermo-compressed toform a closely adhering state (the structure of five layers or the like)in the state of a long length, and thereafter, holes having a circularshape, a rectangular shape, or the like are formed therein through pressor the like.

When a hole is formed through the press, die of mold for punching, andthe size of punching are designed, and R processing (round angle) isperformed for the ends of the transparent layer 124 of the outermostlayer.

The transparent layers 124 may be a coat layer of varnish. The side ID126 is attached to at least three positions on the side face of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming. The side ID 126 is attached throughinkjet printing using ink that is visible for visible light.

Particularly, in this embodiment, the side ID 126 is configured to beattached as presence/absence of marks C of a plurality of rows and aplurality of columns. In the marks C of the plurality of rows and theplurality of columns, as illustrated in FIG. 17, upper and lower marks Care paired to configure a code, and a code of ten digits is formed inthe case illustrated in FIG. 17. A configuration in which upper andlower marks C are paired to configure a code (four types) is illustratedin FIG. 18. A letter “Y” disposed to the side of marks C is anidentification mark used for identifying upper and lower sides of amark. A code configured by marks C is configured to specify apredetermined combination of marks C. As a result, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 18, there are four types of combination of the marksC of upper and lower two columns, and, by printing these in ten columns,four to the power of 10 codes can be configured. Since there are fourtypes of a 10-digit code, 4 to the power of 10 codes are acquired, andaccordingly, the side IDs 126 of substitute currency 120 for gaming canbe sufficiently assigned.

The substitute currency 120 for gaming forms a stripe pattern on theside face in the stacking direction by employing a multi-layer structurein which a plurality of plastic layers having different colors arestacked, the coloring layer 121 is included at least in one layer, thewhite layers 122 or the thin-color layers are stacked on a further outerside than the coloring layer 121 and has a configuration enabling thetype of the substitute currency 120 for gaming to be specified using thecoloring layer 121. The side IDs 126 are disposed at least threepositions (preferably, six positions) on the side face of the whitelayer 122 or the thin-color layer, and, in this example, six side IDsare disposed at a predetermined interval of 60 degrees in the rotationdirection (circumferential direction). The side IDs 126 individuallyidentifiable (different for each one) are attached to substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, and the side IDs 126 are disposed at apredetermined interval of 60 degrees in the rotation direction(circumferential direction) such that the side ID is necessarily seenfrom the lateral side. The side IDs 126 attached to the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming are read by the ID reading device 53 describedabove. The type, the manufacturing information, and the like ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming can be specified by reading the sideID 126 by using the ID reading device 53, and a configuration in whichthe side ID 126 can be managed in the database 51 is formed. In thisembodiment, the side IDs 126 are attached using ink (visible ink) thatis visible for visible light through inkjet printing. The side IDs 126may be printed using at least one or a combination of ink (ink absorbinginfrared rays) that is not visible for visible light and ink (includinga side ID that is very small and is difficult to see) that is visiblefor at least visible light. In addition, the side IDs 126 may be printedby combining a plurality of such ink of a plurality of types. The IDreading device 53 includes at least a plurality of cameras (that is, avisible-light camera in a case where ink is visible ink, an infrared-raycamera in a case where ink is infrared reactive ink, and an ultravioletcamera in a case where ink is UV ink (UV radiator and a visible-lightcamera)) corresponding to the ink used for printing the side ID 126 orincludes a camera capable of performing switching among a plurality offunctions of cameras (a visible-light camera, an infrared ray camera,and an ultraviolet ray camera (an UV radiator and a visible-light cameraor the like)) corresponding to the ink.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 19, in substitute currency 120-1 forgaming, side IDs 126 are printed using ink (ink absorbing infrared rays)that is not visible for visible light. In substitute currency 120-2 forgaming, marks C of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns areprinted using ink that is seen dark for visible light. In substitutecurrency 120-3 for gaming, additionally, marks C are printed using inkseen dark for visible light also between the side IDs 126, and the sideIDs 126 are configured to dissolve in the design not to be visuallydistinguished. In substitute currency 120-4 for gaming, a start pointand an end point of the side ID 126 are represented by a mark Cfrepresenting the end. When the substitute currencies 120-1 to 120-4 forgaming are seen using an infrared-ray camera, ink absorbing infraredrays absorbs infrared rays to be seen dark, and the substitutecurrencies 120-1 to 120-4 for gaming can be imaged in a state(represented as the substitute currency 120-5 for gaming) in which theside ID 126 can be read. In addition, the upper and lower sides of theside ID 126 are illustrated using a mark CL representing the upper andlower sides. A relation between the upper and lower sides of the mark isas illustrated in FIG. 17. In addition, the side IDs 126 may be printedusing a combination of ink that is visible for visible light and aninfrared ray absorption ink.

The side IDs 126 attached to the substitute currency 120 for gaming areread by the ID reading device 53 described above, and the ID readingdevice 53 can read the substitute currency 120 for gaming held in thestorage 62 of a cashier of a game house and the game table gamingsubstitute currency tray 17 of the game table, and actually, asillustrated in FIG. 20A, when the substitute currency 120 for gaming isstacked horizontally, the side IDs 126 can be read. In addition, thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming stacked in the bet area 8 or thelike, as illustrated in FIG. 20B, can be also read.

Furthermore, in the substitute currency 120 for gaming, a face codeusing UV ink or ink (carbon black ink) absorbing infrared rays isarranged on the surface (X) of the white layer 122 (see FIG. 9B).

This face code represents authenticity of substitute currency 120 forgaming, and, when ultraviolet rays (or infrared rays) hit the face code,the face code becomes visible to the eyes and represents authenticitybased on a combination of the forms and a number. While the transparentlayers (print layers) 124 are thermos-compressed or coated in theoutermost layers to cover a print 123 (100 points or the like) used forspecifying a game house and a face code disposed on the surface,embossing process or varnish processing is performed for the transparentlayers 124, and the substitute currency 120 for gaming is prevented fromadhering to each other and is caused to slide well. In the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, a circular recess 127 is arranged at the centerof each of the upper and lower faces.

According to the recesses 127, the substitute currency 120 for gaming isprevented from being adhere to each other, and, by increasing thediameter of the recesses 127, the substitute currency 120 for gaming canslide well.

The R processing (R) is performed for the ends of the transparent layers(print layers) 124 of the outermost layers for which a print 123 (100points or the like) is performed, and, in the punching process of thesubstitute currency 100 for gaming, the surfaces of the white layers 122are prevented from being deformed to appear on the side face. Inaddition, it is prevented that a sharp end remains in the substitutecurrency 100 for gaming and damages the hands or the other substitutecurrency 120 for gaming. The coloring layer 121 may be formed by coloredone layer or a plurality of layers. In addition, metal or ceramic usedfor increasing the weight may be built in a layer included in the layerof the coloring layer 121. More specifically, in the material of thelayer included in the layer of the coloring layer 121, for example,metal powders (for example, a metal oxide of one or a plurality of metaloxides of zinc oxide and titanium oxide) may be contained. In addition,a part of the coloring layer 121 is hollowed out, or a space is arrangedbetween the coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122, and an RFID maybe built therein. In such a case, as the side ID 126 of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, a side ID 126 according to a code using themarks C and a side ID using the RFID are used together.

In the substitute currency 120 for gaming configured in this way, thetypes and the quantities of the substitute currency 120 for gaming thatis held in the game table gaming substitute currency tray 17 and thestorage 62 are specified by the gaming substitute currency determiningdevice 52 through the camera device 2 and the ID reading device 53, andthe side IDs 126 of the substitute currency 120 for gaming present onthe game table gaming substitute currency tray 17 and the storage 62 aremanaged in the database 51 together with the presence informationthereof. In this way, at least, it is inspected whether 1) a side ID 126that has not been present in the database 51 is newly present 2) two ormore same side IDs 126 are present. By determining the occurrences ofthe situations of 1) and 2) described above by searching for all theside IDs 126, the inspection is realized.

As described above, while a game participant 6 can perform exchange ofcash 61 for substitute currency for gaming in the cashier 60, exchangeof cash 61 for substitute currency 120 for gaming can be performed alsoin the game table 4. The camera device 2 images bills placed on the gametable 4 to exchange them for substitute currency 120 for gaming. Thatis, a plurality of camera devices 2 imaging the substitute currency 120for gaming disposed on the game table 4 are arranged at differentpositions to have different heights.

The management control device 50 specifies the types and the quantitiesof substitute currency 120 for gaming to be discharged from the gamingsubstitute currency tray 17 in the exchange from bills by using a resultof imaging of bills using the camera device 2. The management controldevice 50 compares real total amounts of the substitute currency 120 forgaming housed in the gaming substitute currency tray 17 before and afterthe payment and determines whether or not this difference corresponds tothe specified types and quantities of the substitute currency 120 forgaming to be discharged.

That is, the management control device 50 determines through acomparison whether or not a total amount of the substitute currency 120for gaming perceived in the gaming substitute currency tray 17corresponds to an increase/decrease according to a paid amount of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming corresponding to exchanged billsafter the exchange of the bills and the substitute currency 120 forgaming. In addition, when collection and re-payment according to aresult of winning/losing of a game are simultaneously performed, themanagement control device 50 determines through a comparison whether ornot the total amount corresponds to an amount of the substitute currency120 for gaming bet by all the players 6 and an increase/decrease in thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming calculated based on a result of thewinning/losing of the game.

Here, the management control device 50 is a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring information of the types and the quantities of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming even in a state in which a part or whole oneunit of the substitute currency 120 for gaming is hidden when the typesand the quantities of the substitute currency 120 for gaming aremeasured and determined.

As described above, the side IDs 126 are attached to the white layers122 or the thin-color layers of the side face of the substitute currency120 for gaming at least at three or more positions spaced apart in arotation direction (circumferential direction). The types and themanufacturing information of substitute currency 120 for gaming can bespecified by reading the side IDs 126 by using the ID reading device 53.The specified information specified through measurement has aconfiguration that can be collated and managed with the database 51.

The management control device 50 may be a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure. Themanagement control device 50 can perceive the position 8 (a positionbetting on a player, a banker, or a pair), the types (a value of adifferent amount is assigned to the substitute currency for gaming foreach color), and the quantities of the substitute currency 120 forgaming by using an artificial intelligence-utilizing type computer orcontrol system, a deep-learning (structure) technology, a self-learningfunction, or the like.

Hereinafter, a modified example of the substitute currency 120 forgaming will be described. In the modified example, on the side face ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming, a seven-digit number is printedas the side ID 126. In the example illustrated in FIG. 21, a white layer122 is disposed in the middle, and, under the white layer, a coloringlayer 121 is disposed. A number as a mark is printed on the white layer122 disposed in the middle and configured a side ID 126. When 10 typesof combinations of numbers are printed in seven digits, 10 to the powerof 7 codes can be configured, and accordingly, the side IDs 126 ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming can be sufficiently assigned. In thecamera device 2 and an image analysis thereof, there are cases where itis difficult to determine and read a number, a combination of marks Cdescribed in the previous embodiment is considered to be advantageous inthe image analysis.

Another inspection device 300 inspecting the substitute currency 120 forgaming will be described with reference to FIG. 22. The inspectiondevice 300 includes: a face code reading device 306 that reads a facecode M formed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared raysdisposed on the surface of the substitute currency 120 for gaming; an IDreading device 307 that reads the side ID 126 of the side face; an RFIDreading device 308 that reads information of an RFID (not illustrated inthe drawing) of the substitute currency 120 for gaming; and a controldevice 207. The control device 207 is configured to inspect a relationamong the information of the side ID 126 acquired by the ID readingdevice 307, the information acquired from the face code reading device306, and the information acquired from the RFID reading device 308.There is a correct database (not illustrated in the drawing), and therelation among the information is inspected by comparing a readingresult with the database. This inspection is used for preventing theoccurrence of a defect by detecting a print error in the face code M andthe side ID 126 or for discrimination with a fake.

This example (FIG. 22) includes an extrusion device 302 that suppliessubstitute currency 120 for gaming one at each time to a reading stage309 by using an extruder 301 that in moved in the direction of an arrowZ by the extrusion device 302, and the stacked substitute currency 120for gaming is supplied from the extrusion device 302 to the readingstage 309. In this way, previous substitute currency 120 for gaming forwhich the inspection is completed is extruded and falls in the directionof an arrow X, and the substitute currency 120 for gaming that hasfallen in the direction of the arrow X is held on a holding stage 310.

Further another inspection device 400 that inspects substitute currency120 for gaming will be described with reference to FIG. 23. Theinspection device 400 includes: an RFID reading device 408 that readsinformation of an RFID (not illustrated in the drawing) of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming; an ID reading device 307 that readsthe side ID 126 of the side face; and a control device 207 and isconfigured to inspect a relation between the information of the side ID126 acquired by the ID reading device 307 and the information acquiredfrom the RFID reading device 408. There is a correct database (notillustrated in the drawing), and the relation among the information isinspected by comparing a reading result with the database. Thisinspection is used for preventing the occurrence of a defect bydetecting a print error in the face code M and the side ID 126 or fordiscrimination with a fake.

The ID reading device 307 includes a single visible-light camera or asingle infrared-ray camera corresponding to ink used for print the sideID 126 and is configured to include a camera 409 capable of performingswitching among a plurality of functions of a visible-light camera andan infrared-ray camera corresponding to the printed ink. Thevisible-light camera can read the number and the color of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, and the infrared-ray camera can read the sideID 126 of the substitute currency 120 for gaming.

Still another inspection device 450 inspecting substitute currency 120for gaming will be described with reference to FIG. 24. A same referencenumeral is assigned to a same component as that of the inspection device400 (the description thereof will not be presented). An ID readingdevice 307 is configured to include a plurality of visible-light cameras304 or infrared-ray cameras 305 corresponding to ink used for printingthe side ID 126. The visible-light camera 304 can read the number andthe color of the substitute currency 120 for gaming, and theinfrared-ray camera 305 can read the side ID 126 of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming.

A management control device 50 acquires a total amount of substitutecurrency for gaming (chips) placed in a gaming substitute currency tray17 after a settlement at the time of the end of a game through a gamingsubstitute currency determining device 52. A determination of “after asettlement” is when any one of the following 1) to 4) occurs:

1) when re-payment for winning substitute currency 120 for gaming(winning chips) is completed

2) when cards C used in this game are collected and are disposed in adisposal area or a disposal slot of the table

3) when a predetermined button accompanying a card distributing device 3functioning as a winning/losing result determining device is pressed

4) when a marker 43 representing winning/losing is returned to theoriginal state

In addition, in this embodiment, an image analyzing device 18 accordingto the second embodiment that records a state of process of a gameplayed in the game table 4 as a video including game participants 6 anda dealer 5 through a plurality of camera devices 2 and performs an imageanalysis of the recorded video of the state of process of the game toanalyze and perceive a total amount of the substitute currency 120 forgaming in the gaming substitute currency tray 17 of a dealer 5 of thegame table 4 and a measurement device 19 that performs an analysis andmeasurement by using information acquired by the image analyzing device18 and determines the types and the quantities of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming, and/or a mark reading device 205 that reads aface code formed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared raysdisposed on the surface of the substitute currency 120 for gaming arecombined, and an RFID reading device 308 that reads information of anRFID 125 of the substitute currency 120 for gaming is combined as isnecessary, whereby an inspection device as below including a managementcontrol device 50 can be configured.

That is, by combining the RFID reading device 308 reading theinformation of the RFID 125 of the substitute currency 120 for gamingwith the configuration described above, an inspection device includingthe ID reading device 53 reading the side ID 126 of the side face andthe management control device 50 can be configured. In this inspectiondevice, the management control device 50 inspects a relation between theinformation of the side ID 126 read by the ID reading device 53 and theinformation of the RFID 125 read by the RFID reading device 308 isinspected.

In addition, by combining the mark reading device 205 of the secondembodiment that reads a face code formed using UV emission ink or aninfrared-ray absorption ink arranged on the upper face or the lower faceof the substitute currency 120 for gaming with the configurationdescribed above, an inspection device including the ID reading device 53reading the side ID 126 of the side face and the management controldevice 50 can be configured. In this inspection device, the managementcontrol device 50 inspects a relation between the information of theside ID 126 read by the ID reading device 53 and the information of theface code read by the mark reading device 205.

In addition, by combining the mark reading device 205 of the secondembodiment that reads a face code formed using UV emission ink or aninfrared-ray absorption ink arranged on the surface of the substitutecurrency 120 for gaming and an RFID reading device 308 readinginformation of the RFID 125 of the substitute currency 120 for gamingwith the configuration described above, an inspection device includingthe ID reading device 53 reading the side ID 126 of the side face andthe management control device 50 can be configured. In this inspectiondevice, the management control device 50 inspects a relation among theinformation of the side ID 126 read by the ID reading device 53, theinformation of the face code read by the mark reading device 205, andthe information of the RFID 125 read by the RFID reading device 308.

As described above, in this embodiment, in the substitute currency 120for gaming, side IDs 126 used for identifying each individual isattached to the outer faces of the white layer 122 or the thin-colorlayer.

The side IDs 126 are attached to at least three or more positions spacedapart in a rotation direction (circumferential direction) of thesubstitute currency 120 for gaming.

In addition, the side IDs 126 are printed using non-visible ink (forexample, infrared-ray absorption ink or UV emission ink) that is notvisible for visible light.

Furthermore, the side IDs 126 are disposed in a plurality of rows on theside faces of two layers of the white layers 122 or the thin-colorlayers.

In addition, at least one layer among the plurality of plastic layersconfiguring the coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 is a layercontaining metal powders (for example, a metal oxide of one or aplurality of metal oxides of zinc oxide and titanium oxide) used forincreasing the weight in the layer.

In addition, the side IDs 126 may be printed using at least two or moretypes of ink among ink that is visible for visible light, aninfrared-ray absorption ink, and UV ink. In such a case, the ID readingdevice 53 includes a plurality of cameras corresponding to each ink usedfor printing the side IDs 126 or includes a camera capable of performingswitching among a plurality of imaging functions corresponding to eachink.

In addition, the substitute currency 120 for gaming is manufactured asbelow. First, a coloring layer 121 and white layers 122 or thin-colorlayers having the coloring layer 121 interposed therebetween arethermos-compressed, whereby a stacked structure body including aplurality of plastic layers is formed. Then, drawing patterns areprinted on at least the upper face or the lower face of the stackedstructure body, whereby a substitute currency original plate isgenerated. Then, punching processing is performed for the substitutecurrency original plate by using a mold, whereby a plurality ofsubstitute currencies for gaming having a predetermined shape areacquired. Here, in at least one layer among the plurality of plasticlayers, a layer containing metal powders or a metal oxide used forincreasing the weight is used.

On side faces of the substitute currency 120 for gaming manufactured inthis way, side IDs 126 used for identifying each individual are printed.At this time, the side IDs 126 may be printed through inkjet printing.

In addition, an RFID 125 is interposed between the layers of the stackedstructure body, and the layers having the RFID 125 interposedtherebetween are heated and welded when the layers arethermos-compressed, whereby the periphery of the RFID 125 is fixed to beadhering to the plastic layers.

In addition, the management system of table games according to thisembodiment includes: a gaming substitute currency tray 17 that isdisposed on a game table 4 and holds substitute currency 120 for gamingfor each type; a camera device 2 that images the substitute currency 120for gaming held in the gaming substitute currency tray 17; and amanagement control device 50 that specifies the types and the quantitiesof substitute currency 120 for gaming held in the gaming substitutecurrency tray 17 and measures a total amount of the substitute currency120 for gaming disposed on the gaming substitute currency tray 17 byusing a result of the imaging performed by the camera device 2.

The substitute currency 120 for gaming is a stacked structure body inwhich the coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 or the thin-colorlayers are stacked and has a stripe pattern on the side face in thestacking direction. The management control device 50 has a function ofmeasuring the number of the coloring layers 121 or the white layers 122or the thin-color layers of the substitute currency for gaming placed byeach game participant and determining the types and the amount of thesubstitute currency for gaming based on the colors of the coloringlayers 121.

The management control device 50 determines whether or not a real totalamount of the substitute currency 120 for gaming after the end of a gamethat is perceived on the gaming substitute currency tray 17 correspondsto an increase/decrease amount of the substitute currency 120 for gamingcalculated based on the amount of the substitute currency 120 for gamingbet by all the players 6 and a result of winning/losing of the game.

In the management control device 50, the acquisition of the total amountof the substitute currency 120 for gaming in the gaming substitutecurrency tray 17 after a settlement at the time of end of a game may beperformed at one of:

1) time when re-payment for winning substitute currency 120W for gamingends;

2) time when cards used in the game are collected and are disposed in adisposal area of the table;

3) time when a predetermined button accompanying a card distributingdevice 3 functioning as a winning/losing result determining device ispressed; and

4) time when a marker representing winning/losing is returned to theoriginal state.

The camera device 2 can also image bills place on the game table 4 forexchange of the substitute currency 120 for gaming, and the managementcontrol device 50 specifies the types and the quantities of substitutecurrency 120 for gaming disposed on the gaming substitute currency tray17 to be decreased according to exchange of the substitute currency 120for gaming disposed on the gaming substitute currency tray 17 and billsby using a result of the imaging of the bills and performs a comparisonwith a real total amount of the substitute currency 120 for gamingdisposed on the gaming substitute currency tray 17.

The management control device 50 determines through a comparison whethera total amount of substitute currency 120 for gaming perceived in thegaming substitute currency tray 17 corresponds to an increase/decreaseaccording to a paid amount of substitute currency 120 for gamingcorresponding to exchanged bills after the exchange of the bills andsubstitute currency 120 for gaming is performed and an increase/decreasein substitute currency 120 for gaming calculated based on the amount ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming bet by all the players 6 and a resultof winning/losing of the game.

The management control device 50 is a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring information of the types and the quantities of substitutecurrency 120 for gaming also in a state in which a part or one unit ofthe substitute currency 120 for gaming is hidden when the types and thequantities of the substitute currency 120 for gaming are measured anddetermined.

The side IDs 126 attached to the white layers 122 or the thin-colorlayers of the side face of the substitute currency 120 for gaming atleast at three or more positions spaced apart in a rotation direction(circumferential direction), the types and manufacturing information ofsubstitute currency 120 for gaming can be specified by reading the sideID 126 by using the ID reading device 53, and the specified informationspecified through measurement has a configuration that can be collatedand managed with the database 51.

The side IDs 126 may be printed using two or more types of ink among ink(visible ink) that is visible for visible light, infrared-ray absorptionink, and UV emission ink. In such a case, the ID reading device 53includes a plurality of types of cameras (a plurality of types of avisible-light camera, an infrared-ray camera, and an ultraviolet camera(a UV radiator and a visible-light camera, and the like) correspondingto ink used for printing the side IDs 126.

Alternatively, a camera capable of performing switching among aplurality of imaging functions (a visible-light camera, an infrared-raycamera, and an ultraviolet camera (a UV radiator and a visible-lightcamera, and the like) corresponding to each ink may be included.

In addition, a configuration may be employed in which substitutecurrency 120 for gaming disposed on the game table 4 is imaged by usinga plurality of camera devices 2 b-1 and 2 b-2 that are arranged atpredetermined positions and have different heights.

In the embodiments described above, while the image analyzing device 12and the control device 14 are devices having an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure, more specifically,the image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 may perform animage analysis and various control processes described above by using ascale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, a convolutionalneural network (CNN), deep learning, machine learning, or the like. Suchtechnologies are technologies for recognizing a target included in animage by performing image recognition for a captured image, andparticularly, in recent years, a target is recognized with high accuracyby using a deep learning technology having multi-layered neural network.

In this deep learning technology, generally, in an intermediate layerbetween an input layer and an output layer of a neural network, layersoverlap each other over a plurality of stages, and accordingly, a targetis recognized with high accuracy.

In these deep learning technologies, particularly, a convolutionalneural network has attracted attention owing to high performanceaccording to recognition of a target based on conventional imagefeatures.

In the convolutional neural network, a recognition target image to whichlabels are assigned is learned, and main target included in therecognition target image is recognized. In a case where a plurality ofmain targets are present in a learning image, a designation is madeusing an area rectangular, and learning is performed with a labelassigned to an image corresponding to the designated area. In addition,in the convolutional neural network, a main target in an image and theposition of the target can be determined.

The convolutional neural network will be further described. In a targetrecognition process, by performing an edge extracting process and thelike for a recognition target image, candidate areas are extracted basedon local features, and, after feature vectors are extracted by inputtingthe candidate areas to the convolutional neural network, classificationis performed, and a candidate area having a classified highest certaintyfactor is acquired as a result of the recognition.

Here, the certainty factor is an amount representing a relative degreeof highness of the similarity of a subject of an image learned togetherwith an image area and a label relative to the similarity of the otherclasses.

In addition, devices having artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,361,577, US2016-171336 A, US 2015-036920 A, JP 2016-110232 A, and the like, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

As above, while various embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is apparent that the embodiments described above may bechanged by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the presentinvention, and the devices according to these embodiments may beappropriately changed as is necessary for an application game.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 Playing card-   1 s Plurality of sample playing card-   2 Camera device-   3 Card distributing device-   4 Game table-   5 Dealer-   6 Guest (game participant/player)-   7 Chair-   8 Bet area-   10 Area-   10P Player area-   10B Banker area-   11 Game recording device-   12 Image analyzing device-   13 Result display lamp-   14 Control device-   14C Card distribution detecting device-   15 Output (abnormality determination result and the like)-   16 Abnormality display lamp-   30 Distribution limiting device-   33 Slot-   34 Lock member-   35 Driving unit-   36 Lock member-   37 Driving unit-   40 Distribution limiting device-   102 Card housing unit-   103 Index-   105 Card guiding unit-   106 Opening portion-   107 Card guide-   109 Control unit-   112 Side monitor-   120 Substitute currency for gaming-   121 Coloring layer-   122 White layer-   123 Print-   124 Transparent layer (print layer)-   125 RFID-   126 Side ID-   200 Inspection device-   201 Inlet-   202 Outlet-   203 Passage-   204 Determination device-   205 Mark reading device-   206 Print inspecting device-   207 Control device

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A management system for managing gaming chips,wherein at least one gaming chip of the gaming chips includes a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag that stores a first information, andeach gaming chip of the gaming chips has a second informationrepresented on a side surface of the gaming chip, the second informationis readable when the gaming chips are stacked on top of each other, themanagement system comprising: an image capture device configured tocapture an image of a portion of the side surface of each gaming chip ofa stack of one or more gaming chips; a reader configured to read a setof RFID tags associated with the one or more gaming chips included inthe stack to obtain the first information for each read RFID tag; animage analysis device configured to, based on the image and for eachgaming chip included in the stack, identify the second information; adatabase in which the first information and the second information foreach gaming chip of the gaming chips is associated and recorded; and acontroller configured to inspect, by referring to the database, anassociation between the first information obtained by the reader and thesecond information obtained by the image analysis device.
 10. Themanagement system according to claim 9, wherein the image analysisdevice is further configured to, based on the image and for each gamingchip included in the stack, obtain a position of the gaming chip. 11.The management system according to claim 9, wherein, for each gamingchip, the second information is represented on at least three locationson the side surface of the gaming chip.
 12. The management systemaccording to claim 9, further comprising: a holder configured to hold aplurality of gaming chips in a stacked state, wherein: the image capturedevice is configured to capture an image of the plurality of gamingchips held by the holder, and the reader is configured to read the RFIDtags of the plurality of gaming chips held by the holder.
 13. Themanagement system according to claim 9, further comprising: a game tableon which games using the gaming chips are played, wherein the imagecapture device is configured to capture the image of the portion of theside surface of each gaming chip of the stack on the game table, and thereader is configured to read the RFID tags of a plurality of gamingchips stacked on the game table.
 14. The management system according toclaim 9, wherein, for each gaming chip, the second information includesinformation representing a type of the gaming chip.
 15. The managementsystem according to claim 9, wherein the second information is codeinformation represented by the presence or absence of a plurality ofmarks.
 16. The management system according to claim 9, wherein thecontroller is further configured to generate an error signal based on adetermination that the second information of the second gaming chip isnot present in the database.
 17. The management system according toclaim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to generate anerror signal based on a determination that two or more identical secondinformation are present in the database.
 18. The management systemaccording to claim 9, wherein: the set of RFID tags read by readerincludes RFID tags of a first number of gaming chips of the stack; andthe stack includes a total of a second number of gaming chips that isdifferent from the first number of gaming chips.
 19. The managementsystem according to claim 9, wherein at least one gaming chip includedin the stack is a counterfeit gaming chip that is without an RFID tagthat stores the first information.
 20. A gaming chip used in amanagement system, the gaming chip comprising: an RFID tag configured tostore first information; and a side surface configured to representsecond information of the gaming chip at at least three differentlocations on the side surface, wherein: the second information isreadable when the gaming chip is included in a stack of a plurality ofchips in which the chips of the plurality of chips are stacked on top ofeach other, and the first information and the second information areassociated with each other in a database to enable inspection betweenthe first information read from the RFID tag and the second informationread from the side surface.
 21. A management system for managing gamingchips, the management system comprising: an image capture deviceconfigured to capture an image of a portion of a side surface of eachgaming chip included in a stack of gaming chips, one or more of thegaming chip includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag thatstores first information, and the side surface of each of the gamingchips is associated with second information; a reader configured to reada set of RFID tags associated with one or more gaming chips included inthe stack to obtain the first information of each read RFID tag; animage analysis device configured to, based on the image, identify thesecond information associated with each of the gaming chips; and acontroller configured to inspect, based on data stored in a database, anassociation between the first information obtained by the reader and thesecond information identified by the image analysis device.
 22. Themanagement system according to claim 21, wherein the side surface of thegaming chip represents the second information.
 23. The management systemaccording to claim 21, wherein the side surface is configured to bereadable to determine the second information.
 24. The management systemaccording to claim 21, further comprising the database in which firstinformation of one or more gaming chips and second information of theone or more gaming chips are associated and stored.
 25. The managementsystem according to claim 21, wherein, to inspect the association, thecontroller is further configured to determine whether the secondinformation of the gaming chip is present in the database.
 26. Themanagement system according to claim 21, wherein the controller isfurther configured to generate an error signal based on a determinationthat the second information of a particular gaming chip is not presentin the database.
 27. The management system according to claim 21,wherein, to inspect the association, the controller is furtherconfigured determine whether the second information is present in thedatabase and associated with two or more different gaming chips.
 28. Themanagement system according to claim 21, wherein the controller isfurther configured to generate an error signal based on a determinationthat two or more identical second information are present in thedatabase.
 29. The management system of claim 21, wherein: the stackincludes a plurality of gaming chips, the plurality of gaming chipsincluding the gaming chip and a second gaming chip, the second gamingchip includes an RFID tag that stores first information of the secondgaming chip and a side surface associated with second information of thesecond gaming chip; the reader is further configured to read the RFIDtags of the second gaming chip to obtain the first information of thesecond gaming chip; the image analysis device is further configured to,based on the image, identify the second information associated with thesecond gaming chip; and the controller is configured to: receive thefirst information of the second gaming chip from the reader, receive thesecond information of the second gaming chip from the image analysisdevice, access the database, and inspect, based on the data stored in adatabase, an association between the first information of the secondgaming chip and the second information of the second gaming chip.